Lokalized - Languages - Latin American Spanish

Cardinalities

CARDINALITY_ONE

Matches n = 1

Example Integers: 1

Example Decimals: 1.0, 1.00, 1.000, 1.0000
CARDINALITY_MANY

Matches e = 0 and i != 0 and i % 1000000 = 0 and v = 0 or e != 0..5

Example Integers: 1000000, …
CARDINALITY_OTHER

Matches all other values

Example Integers: 0, 2, 16, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000, …

Example Decimals: 0.0, 0.9, 1.1, 1.6, 10.0, 100.0, 1000.0, 10000.0, 100000.0, 1000000.0, …

Cardinality example

This localized strings file selects the localized form of “day” for a delivery estimate. Raw numbers choose the CLDR category; values formatted for display are interpolated.

Sample localized strings file

es-419.json Localized Strings File (Latin American Spanish)

{
  "Delivery.LeadTime": {
    "commentary": "Estimated delivery time, expressed in days.",
    "translation": "{{leadTime}}",
    "placeholders": {
      "leadTime": {
        "value": "dayCount",
        "translations": {
          "CARDINALITY_ONE": "{{formattedDayCount}} día",
          "CARDINALITY_MANY": "{{formattedDayCount}} días",
          "CARDINALITY_OTHER": "{{formattedDayCount}} días"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage and expected results

JavaScript

The JavaScript code passes each raw number for cardinality selection and formats its display value separately with Intl.NumberFormat. The exact-tag 1,000,000 assertion records the output of Node.js 24.15.0; other runtimes' locale data can differ.

import { cardinalityForNumber, createStrings } from "lokalized";
import { readStringsFromDirectory } from "lokalized/node";

const locale = "es-419";

const strings = createStrings({
  localizedStringSupplier: () => readStringsFromDirectory("strings").catalogs,
  fallbackLocale: locale,
  localeSupplier: () => locale,
});

const numberFormat = new Intl.NumberFormat(locale);

// Raw numbers select language forms; Intl.NumberFormat produces the display values

// CARDINALITY_ONE
const oneDayCount = 1;
const oneFormattedDayCount = numberFormat.format(oneDayCount);

cardinalityForNumber(oneDayCount, locale).name;   // => "CARDINALITY_ONE"
strings.get("Delivery.LeadTime", {
  dayCount: oneDayCount,
  formattedDayCount: oneFormattedDayCount,
});   // => "1 día"

// CARDINALITY_MANY
const manyDayCount = 1_000_000;
const manyFormattedDayCount = numberFormat.format(manyDayCount);

cardinalityForNumber(manyDayCount, locale).name;   // => "CARDINALITY_MANY"
strings.get("Delivery.LeadTime", {
  dayCount: manyDayCount,
  formattedDayCount: manyFormattedDayCount,
});   // => "1,000,000 días"

// CARDINALITY_OTHER
const otherDayCount = 0;
const otherFormattedDayCount = numberFormat.format(otherDayCount);

cardinalityForNumber(otherDayCount, locale).name;   // => "CARDINALITY_OTHER"
strings.get("Delivery.LeadTime", {
  dayCount: otherDayCount,
  formattedDayCount: otherFormattedDayCount,
});   // => "0 días"

// Exact-tag formatting sample
const localeProfileDayCount = 1_000_000;
const localeProfileFormattedDayCount = numberFormat.format(localeProfileDayCount);

localeProfileFormattedDayCount;   // => "1,000,000"
cardinalityForNumber(localeProfileDayCount, locale).name;   // => "CARDINALITY_MANY"
strings.get("Delivery.LeadTime", {
  dayCount: localeProfileDayCount,
  formattedDayCount: localeProfileFormattedDayCount,
});   // => "1,000,000 días"

Java

The Java code passes each raw number for cardinality selection and formats its display value separately with NumberFormat. The exact-tag 1,000,000 assertion records JDK 26 output; older JDK locale data can differ.

Locale locale = Locale.forLanguageTag("es-419");

Strings strings = Strings.withFallbackLocale(locale)
  .localizedStringSupplier(() -> LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromFilesystem(Paths.get("strings")))
  .localeSupplier((matcher) -> matcher.bestMatchFor(locale))
  .build();

NumberFormat numberFormat = NumberFormat.getNumberInstance(locale);

// Raw numbers select language forms; NumberFormat produces the display values

// CARDINALITY_ONE
Number oneDayCount = 1;
String oneFormattedDayCount = numberFormat.format(oneDayCount);

assertEquals(Cardinality.ONE, Cardinality.forNumber(oneDayCount, locale));

// Expected: 1 día
assertEquals(oneFormattedDayCount + " día", strings.get(
  "Delivery.LeadTime", Map.of("dayCount", oneDayCount, "formattedDayCount", oneFormattedDayCount)
));

// CARDINALITY_MANY
Number manyDayCount = 1_000_000;
String manyFormattedDayCount = numberFormat.format(manyDayCount);

assertEquals(Cardinality.MANY, Cardinality.forNumber(manyDayCount, locale));

// Expected: 1,000,000 días
assertEquals(manyFormattedDayCount + " días", strings.get(
  "Delivery.LeadTime", Map.of("dayCount", manyDayCount, "formattedDayCount", manyFormattedDayCount)
));

// CARDINALITY_OTHER
Number otherDayCount = 0;
String otherFormattedDayCount = numberFormat.format(otherDayCount);

assertEquals(Cardinality.OTHER, Cardinality.forNumber(otherDayCount, locale));

// Expected: 0 días
assertEquals(otherFormattedDayCount + " días", strings.get(
  "Delivery.LeadTime", Map.of("dayCount", otherDayCount, "formattedDayCount", otherFormattedDayCount)
));

// Exact-tag formatting sample
Number localeProfileDayCount = 1_000_000;
String localeProfileFormattedDayCount = numberFormat.format(localeProfileDayCount);

assertEquals("1,000,000", localeProfileFormattedDayCount);

assertEquals(Cardinality.MANY, Cardinality.forNumber(localeProfileDayCount, locale));

// Expected: 1,000,000 días
assertEquals(localeProfileFormattedDayCount + " días", strings.get(
  "Delivery.LeadTime",
  Map.of("dayCount", localeProfileDayCount, "formattedDayCount", localeProfileFormattedDayCount)
));

Swift

Swift uses pinned CLDR rules for raw numeric values. The display strings in these assertions are fixed examples; applications format display values separately with Foundation. Default .rtlLocales bidi isolation adds FSI/PDI to interpolated values in right-to-left output.

import Foundation
import Lokalized

let locale = try LocaleTag("es-419")
let files = try LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromDirectory(URL(fileURLWithPath: "strings"))
let catalogs = files.mapValues { LocalizedCatalog(strings: $0.strings) }

let strings = try DefaultStrings(configuration: StringsConfiguration(
  localizedStringSupplier: { catalogs }, localeSupplier: { _ in locale },
  fallbackLocale: locale
))

// CARDINALITY_ONE
let number1 = try NumericValue.forDecimal("1")
let category1 = try Cardinality.forNumber(number1, locale: locale.tag)
assert(category1 == .one)
// This fixed display value makes the translation assertion reproducible.
let display1 = "1"
let message1 = try strings.get("Delivery.LeadTime", placeholders: [
  "dayCount": .number(number1),
  "formattedDayCount": .text(display1),
])
assert(ExactString(message1) == ExactString("1 día"))

// CARDINALITY_MANY
let number2 = try NumericValue.forDecimal("1000000")
let category2 = try Cardinality.forNumber(number2, locale: locale.tag)
assert(category2 == .many)
// This fixed display value makes the translation assertion reproducible.
let display2 = "1,000,000"
let message2 = try strings.get("Delivery.LeadTime", placeholders: [
  "dayCount": .number(number2),
  "formattedDayCount": .text(display2),
])
assert(ExactString(message2) == ExactString("1,000,000 días"))

// CARDINALITY_OTHER
let number3 = try NumericValue.forDecimal("0")
let category3 = try Cardinality.forNumber(number3, locale: locale.tag)
assert(category3 == .other)
// This fixed display value makes the translation assertion reproducible.
let display3 = "0"
let message3 = try strings.get("Delivery.LeadTime", placeholders: [
  "dayCount": .number(number3),
  "formattedDayCount": .text(display3),
])
assert(ExactString(message3) == ExactString("0 días"))

Cardinality Ranges

These are CLDR's explicit range mappings. For any start/end pair not listed, the range falls back to the ending cardinality.

CARDINALITY_ONE - CARDINALITY_OTHER

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER
CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_ONE

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER
CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_OTHER

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER

Cardinality range example

The start and end cardinalities select the locale's CLDR range result. The selected form wraps a separately formatted display range.

Sample localized strings file

es-419.json Localized Strings File (Latin American Spanish)

{
  "Delivery.Window": {
    "commentary": "Estimated delivery window, expressed as a range of days.",
    "translation": "{{window}}",
    "placeholders": {
      "window": {
        "range": {
          "start": "minDays",
          "end": "maxDays"
        },
        "translations": {
          "CARDINALITY_ONE": "{{formattedDayRange}} día",
          "CARDINALITY_MANY": "{{formattedDayRange}} días",
          "CARDINALITY_OTHER": "{{formattedDayRange}} días"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage and expected results

JavaScript

The JavaScript code passes raw range endpoints for selection, formats both endpoints separately with Intl.NumberFormat, and joins them for display; choose range punctuation appropriate to your application. Range rules are an optional import, lokalized/data/ranges.

import { cardinalityForNumber, createStrings } from "lokalized";
import { cardinalRangeData, cardinalityForRange } from "lokalized/data/ranges";
import { readStringsFromDirectory } from "lokalized/node";

const locale = "es-419";

const strings = createStrings({
  localizedStringSupplier: () => readStringsFromDirectory("strings").catalogs,
  fallbackLocale: locale,
  localeSupplier: () => locale,
  pluralData: { ranges: cardinalRangeData },
});

const numberFormat = new Intl.NumberFormat(locale);

// Raw numbers select language forms; Intl.NumberFormat produces the display values

// CARDINALITY_OTHER range
const minDays = 1;
const formattedMinDays = numberFormat.format(minDays);
const maxDays = 2;
const formattedMaxDays = numberFormat.format(maxDays);
const formattedDayRange = formattedMinDays + "-" + formattedMaxDays;

cardinalityForRange(
  cardinalityForNumber(minDays, locale),
  cardinalityForNumber(maxDays, locale),
  locale
).name;   // => "CARDINALITY_OTHER"
strings.get("Delivery.Window", { minDays, maxDays, formattedDayRange });   // => "1-2 días"

Java

The Java code passes raw range endpoints for selection. Because NumberFormat formats one number at a time, it formats both endpoints separately and joins them for display; choose range punctuation appropriate to your application.

Locale locale = Locale.forLanguageTag("es-419");

Strings strings = Strings.withFallbackLocale(locale)
  .localizedStringSupplier(() -> LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromFilesystem(Paths.get("strings")))
  .localeSupplier((matcher) -> matcher.bestMatchFor(locale))
  .build();

NumberFormat numberFormat = NumberFormat.getNumberInstance(locale);

// Raw numbers select language forms; NumberFormat produces the display values

// CARDINALITY_OTHER range
Number minDays = 1;
String formattedMinDays = numberFormat.format(minDays);
Number maxDays = 2;
String formattedMaxDays = numberFormat.format(maxDays);
String formattedDayRange = formattedMinDays + "-" + formattedMaxDays;

assertEquals(Cardinality.OTHER, Cardinality.forRange(
  Cardinality.forNumber(minDays, locale),
  Cardinality.forNumber(maxDays, locale),
  locale
));

// Expected: 1-2 días
assertEquals(formattedDayRange + " días", strings.get(
  "Delivery.Window",
  Map.of("minDays", minDays, "maxDays", maxDays, "formattedDayRange", formattedDayRange)
));

Swift

import Foundation
import Lokalized

let locale = try LocaleTag("es-419")
let files = try LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromDirectory(URL(fileURLWithPath: "strings"))
let catalogs = files.mapValues { LocalizedCatalog(strings: $0.strings) }

let strings = try DefaultStrings(configuration: StringsConfiguration(
  localizedStringSupplier: { catalogs }, localeSupplier: { _ in locale },
  fallbackLocale: locale
))

let start = try NumericValue.forDecimal("1")
let end = try NumericValue.forDecimal("2")
let startForm = try Cardinality.forNumber(start, locale: locale.tag)
let endForm = try Cardinality.forNumber(end, locale: locale.tag)
let rangeForm = try Cardinality.forRange(startForm, endForm, locale: locale.tag)
assert(rangeForm == .other)
let message1 = try strings.get("Delivery.Window", placeholders: [
  "minDays": .number(start),
  "maxDays": .number(end),
  "formattedDayRange": .text("1-2"),
])
assert(ExactString(message1) == ExactString("1-2 días"))

Ordinalities

All ordinal numbers use ORDINALITY_OTHER; no value selects a different form.

Example: Toma la 2.ª a la derecha..

Language-Specific Examples

These examples show how Lokalized models grammatical choices and translation behavior that commonly affect Latin American Spanish application copy. Each example identifies the Lokalized language forms and other library features it uses.

Gendered subject and adjective agreement

Spanish keeps the article and adjective aligned with the selected subject's gender. This example uses clienta, a standard feminine form; la cliente is standard as well.

Language references: RAE/ASALE - cliente, clienta, RAE/ASALE - listo, lista, RAE - predicate-attribute agreement

Language forms used: gender

Sample localized strings file

es-419.json Localized Strings File (Latin American Spanish)

{
  "The customer is ready.": {
    "translation": "{{customer}} está {{ready}}.",
    "placeholders": {
      "customer": {
        "value": "gender",
        "translations": {
          "GENDER_MASCULINE": "El cliente",
          "GENDER_FEMININE": "La clienta"
        }
      },
      "ready": {
        "value": "gender",
        "translations": {
          "GENDER_MASCULINE": "listo",
          "GENDER_FEMININE": "lista"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage and expected results

JavaScript

import { GENDER_FEMININE, GENDER_MASCULINE, createStrings } from "lokalized";
import { readStringsFromDirectory } from "lokalized/node";

const locale = "es-419";

const strings = createStrings({
  localizedStringSupplier: () => readStringsFromDirectory("strings").catalogs,
  fallbackLocale: locale,
  localeSupplier: () => locale,
});

strings.get("The customer is ready.", { gender: GENDER_MASCULINE });   // => "El cliente está listo."
strings.get("The customer is ready.", { gender: GENDER_FEMININE });   // => "La clienta está lista."

Java

Locale locale = Locale.forLanguageTag("es-419");

Strings strings = Strings.withFallbackLocale(locale)
  .localizedStringSupplier(() -> LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromFilesystem(Paths.get("strings")))
  .localeSupplier((matcher) -> matcher.bestMatchFor(locale))
  .build();

assertEquals("El cliente está listo.", strings.get(
  "The customer is ready.", Map.of("gender", Gender.MASCULINE)
));

assertEquals("La clienta está lista.", strings.get(
  "The customer is ready.", Map.of("gender", Gender.FEMININE)
));

Swift

import Foundation
import Lokalized

let locale = try LocaleTag("es-419")
let files = try LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromDirectory(URL(fileURLWithPath: "strings"))
let catalogs = files.mapValues { LocalizedCatalog(strings: $0.strings) }

let strings = try DefaultStrings(configuration: StringsConfiguration(
  localizedStringSupplier: { catalogs }, localeSupplier: { _ in locale },
  fallbackLocale: locale
))

let message1 = try strings.get("The customer is ready.", placeholders: [
  "gender": .languageForm(.gender(.masculine)),
])
assert(ExactString(message1) == ExactString("El cliente está listo."))

let message2 = try strings.get("The customer is ready.", placeholders: [
  "gender": .languageForm(.gender(.feminine)),
])
assert(ExactString(message2) == ExactString("La clienta está lista."))

Stressed-a article selection

Most Spanish feminine nouns beginning with stressed a- or ha- take el in the singular when the article immediately precedes the noun, while remaining feminine, as firmada makes visible here.

Language reference: RAE/ASALE - el before feminine nouns beginning with stressed a- or ha-

Language forms used: phonetics

Sample localized strings file

es-419.json Localized Strings File (Latin American Spanish)

{
  "I received {{noun}}.": {
    "translation": "Recibí {{article}} {{noun}} firmada.",
    "placeholders": {
      "article": {
        "value": "noun",
        "translations": {
          "PHONETIC_STRESSED_A": "el",
          "PHONETIC_OTHER": "la"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

The application-provided resolver classifies each raw term at runtime. Its small lookup map stands in for application-specific pronunciation logic or a lexicon.

Usage and expected results

JavaScript

import { PHONETIC_OTHER, PHONETIC_STRESSED_A, createStrings } from "lokalized";
import { readStringsFromDirectory } from "lokalized/node";

const locale = "es-419";

const phoneticsByTerm = new Map([
  ["acta", PHONETIC_STRESSED_A],
  ["carta", PHONETIC_OTHER],
]);
const phoneticResolver = (term) => phoneticsByTerm.get(term) ?? PHONETIC_OTHER;

const strings = createStrings({
  localizedStringSupplier: () => readStringsFromDirectory("strings").catalogs,
  fallbackLocale: locale,
  localeSupplier: () => locale,
  phoneticResolver,
});

strings.get("I received {{noun}}.", { noun: "acta" });   // => "Recibí el acta firmada."
strings.get("I received {{noun}}.", { noun: "carta" });   // => "Recibí la carta firmada."

Java

Locale locale = Locale.forLanguageTag("es-419");

Map<String, Phonetic> phoneticsByTerm = Map.ofEntries(
  Map.entry("acta", Phonetic.STRESSED_A),
  Map.entry("carta", Phonetic.OTHER)
);
PhoneticResolver phoneticResolver = (term, ignoredLocale) ->
  phoneticsByTerm.getOrDefault(term, Phonetic.OTHER);

Strings strings = Strings.withFallbackLocale(locale)
  .localizedStringSupplier(() -> LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromFilesystem(Paths.get("strings")))
  .phoneticResolver(phoneticResolver)
  .localeSupplier((matcher) -> matcher.bestMatchFor(locale))
  .build();

assertEquals("Recibí el acta firmada.", strings.get(
  "I received {{noun}}.", Map.of("noun", "acta")
));

assertEquals("Recibí la carta firmada.", strings.get(
  "I received {{noun}}.", Map.of("noun", "carta")
));

Swift

import Foundation
import Lokalized

let locale = try LocaleTag("es-419")
let files = try LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromDirectory(URL(fileURLWithPath: "strings"))
let catalogs = files.mapValues { LocalizedCatalog(strings: $0.strings) }

let phoneticsByTerm: [ExactString: Phonetic] = [
  "acta": .stressedA,
  "carta": .other,
]
let phoneticResolver: PhoneticResolver = { term, _ in phoneticsByTerm[ExactString(term)] ?? .other }

let strings = try DefaultStrings(configuration: StringsConfiguration(
  localizedStringSupplier: { catalogs }, localeSupplier: { _ in locale },
  fallbackLocale: locale, phoneticResolver: phoneticResolver
))

let message1 = try strings.get("I received {{noun}}.", placeholders: [
  "noun": .text("acta"),
])
assert(ExactString(message1) == ExactString("Recibí el acta firmada."))

let message2 = try strings.get("I received {{noun}}.", placeholders: [
  "noun": .text("carta"),
])
assert(ExactString(message2) == ExactString("Recibí la carta firmada."))

Addendum: Language Form Rules

The language form expressions above are specified by Unicode Technical Standard #35 and use the following notation:

n absolute value of the source number (integer and decimals)
i integer digits of n
v number of visible fraction digits in n, with trailing zeros
w number of visible fraction digits in n, without trailing zeros
f visible fractional digits in n, with trailing zeros
t visible fractional digits in n, without trailing zeros
c/e compact decimal exponent operands used by some CLDR compact-number rules

Cardinalities

CARDINALITY_ONE

CARDINALITY_MANY

CARDINALITY_OTHER

Cardinality example

Sample localized strings file

Usage and expected results

Cardinality Ranges

CARDINALITY_ONE - CARDINALITY_OTHER

CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_ONE

CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_OTHER

Cardinality range example

Sample localized strings file

Usage and expected results

Ordinalities

Language-Specific Examples

Gendered subject and adjective agreement

Sample localized strings file

Usage and expected results

Stressed-a article selection

Sample localized strings file

Usage and expected results

Addendum: Language Form Rules