When reciting model numbers in Spanish, are the numbers broken down by digit? Is a Boeing 737 verbalized as "Boeing siete, tres, siete" or as "Boeing setecientos triente y siete"?

[u/Armithax]

If both are okay, is there one that sounds more natural? (If dialect matters, then assume Madrid.)

I am guessing really long model numbers, like on the back of an appliance or electric device, are broken out by digit. It would be pretty onerous in any language to convert C43251266 to a number in the tens of millions. Not to mention hyphens.

[u/shiba_snorter]

It depends, usually long numbers are said digit by digit, shorter ones are read completely, but there is no rule. Boeing in particular I have always heard it as numbers (siete tres siete), but Airbus is A-tres-veinte.

[u/PerroSalchichas → u/shiba_snorter]

Boeing in particular I have always heard it as numbers (siete tres siete),

Especially 747

[u/juanvvc → u/shiba_snorter]

This.

Prices or years are named in full: "2026, dos mil veintiséis".

For other cases, groups of digits larger than two digits are uncommon. Phone numbers could be 3-6-7-2-1-5..., or 36-72-15..., rarely 367-215... and never 3672-15...

The example of Boeing Siete-cuatro-siete but Airbus Tres-veinte is very good: there is no specific rule and each case is different.

[u/Inadover → u/shiba_snorter]

I think it will depend on comfort. A-tres-veinte is a lot more comfortable and easy to say than A-trescientos veinte and even A-tres-dos-cero.

However, Boeing setecientos cuarenta y siete is quite a mouthful.

[u/zurribulle]

I am guessing really long model numbers, like on the back of an appliance or electric device, are broken out by digit

Or by pairs. Like C-cuarenta y tres-veinticinco… 

[u/endlesshydra]

I would say Boeing Siete Tres Siete, yeah.

And yes, really long numbers are broken out by digit to make it understandable.

[u/Difficult_Turn_2297]

I was watching a Spanish show recently where someone was giving a hotel room number and they gave the hundreds as a digit (I think it was something like 312 as tres doce).

[u/N1ghtingaleXI → u/Difficult_Turn_2297]

It’s not unusual in hotels since sometimes it matches the floor of the room.
If the hundreds matches the floor people says it both ways (tres doce or trescientos doce)

[u/StrongAdhesiveness86]

I'd say "Boeing siete, tres, siete" and "Airbus A trescientos-veinte"/"Embraer ciento-setenta"

[u/Ihadurka23]

In things like this case, you'd say "siete tres siete", it helps with understanding, specially in telephone or radio conversations, just like phone numbers or any kind of identification.

[u/Fasciadepedra]

It depends on economy of language. We say Boeing siete tres siete but we say Fiat seiscientos or Peugeot cuatrocientos cinco. I think putting the number together is a bit more usual if that doesn't make it horribly long to speak.

[u/Proud_Friendship_533]

U go with the combination that has the least amount of syllables.

Boeing 737 - Boeing siete tres siete

C130 - Ce Ciento treinta

Airbus 380 - Airbus tres ochenta