Cuántocuánta

Cuántocuánta is a neologism used in theoretical linguistics to refer to a proposed neutral quantifier that blends the masculine form cuánto and the feminine form cuánta. It is described as a hypothetical device for discussing quantity questions in gender-neutral language, rather than a form that is currently part of standard Spanish.

Origin and etymology: The term cuántocuánta combines the two gendered interrogatives cuánto and cuánta. It emerged in discussions about gender neutrality in Spanish and the ways in which quantifiers could be designed to avoid gender marking in contexts where gender is unknown or irrelevant. The concept is mainly found in analytical or speculative writing rather than in everyday usage.

Usage and theoretical role: In analyses, cuántocuánta is treated as a placeholder or thought experiment to explore how a single form might encode magnitude without committing to a gender. It is sometimes illustrated with hypothetical sentences in which the form would replace both cuánto and cuánta, prompting considerations of syntax, agreement, and processing in gender-inclusive language. In practical terms, speakers typically rely on existing forms and sentence constructions or resort to rephrasing.

Reception and status: Cuántocuánta is not an established feature of Spanish grammar. Critics argue that introducing a new neutral quantifier challenges current morphosyntactic patterns, while proponents view it as a useful tool for examining inclusive language goals and potential computational handling of gender neutrality. It remains primarily a scholarly construct rather than a common linguistic practice.

See also: gender-neutral language, Spanish grammar, Spanish quantifiers, inclusive language.