21 replies to this topic

[traveler]

Does anybody know the reasoning behind Mexican phone number spacing?

In the states, the area code represents a state or large metropolis within a state, the next three digits represent large sections within an are code and then the last four numbers are random.

Someone here me sent their new number (changed here for privacy) thusly:

555-1212

or 55 51 21 2 The Mexican Way

Can someone explain the methodology behind the "Mexican Way" of spacing phone numbers?

[Ellie]

Mexican phone numbers are 10 digits commencing with a 2 or 3 digit area code. e.g. Guadalajara is area code 33 followed by 8 digits, often written 33 1234 5678. Ajijic is area code 376 followed by 7 digits, e.g. 376 766 1234 or 376 12 34 56 78. It doesn't batter how you write it, it's always 10 digits.

But does anyone remember when our phone numbers became 7 digits for local numbers? When I arrived in l997, for several years we only had 5 digit numbers and they then added the 77 prefixes together with the area codes.. I don't remember when...

[RVGRINGO]

You made me remember my first phone number; 11F2. The phone was made of wood, hung on the wall and had a crank. We cranked once for the operator, in order to make a call, or cranked the correct pattern for our neighbors on the same line. It seemed like magic when, later, we got a more modern handset which allowed us to simply pick it up and hear the operator say, "Number, please."

[RVGRINGO]

Back on topic: If you look in the phone book, published by Telmex, the numbers are all in perfectly normal sequence, (321) 123-4567 or, for toll free calls, 01-800-123-4567. However, in the Yellow Pages, you can find 01 800 7 65 12 34 as easily as 01-800-8-38624662, which just seems to prove that it is a system in flux. So, I guess there is no explanation.

[seewee]

Does anybody know the reasoning behind Mexican phone number spacing?

In the states, the area code represents a state or large metropolis within a state, the next three digits represent large sections within an are code and then the last four numbers are random.

Someone here me sent their new number (changed here for privacy) thusly:

555-1212

or 55 51 21 2 The Mexican Way

Can someone explain the methodology behind the "Mexican Way" of spacing phone numbers?

I know exactly what you mean. And if you make a pause at the wrong place, they are all confused or we are. Our way 376-776-9897 and their way 37-67-76-98-97. Same 10 digits but the brain does not register it the same way. Mrsmarty must be smart if he/she does not see the difference.

Good question but I cannot answer why they do it that way.

[KarenONO]

I know exactly what you mean. And if you make a pause at the wrong place, they are all confused or we are. Our way 376-776-9897 and their way 37-67-76-98-97. Same 10 digits but the brain does not register it the same way. Mrsmarty must be smart if he/she does not see the difference.

Good question but I cannot answer why they do it that way.

The question presumes that the (xxx) xxx-xxxx form that we use NOB is the standard and that Mexico is the one that does it in a weird unexplanable way.

Can you explain why NOB numbers do it that way? Is it more logical ??

[seewee]

The question presumes that the (xxx) xxx-xxxx form that we use NOB is the standard and that Mexico is the one that does it in a weird unexplanable way.

Can you explain why NOB numbers do it that way? Is it more logical ??

Yes it is logic. 376 being the area code of Ajijic - 387 being area code of SJC

776 being the sector for Ajijic -761 for SJC , 763 for Joco. The last four digits are at random being the private number. Did you not know that? Thus the original question from Traveler. The logic behind the Mexican way????

[seewee]

Traveler--I found the explanation on pagina IX Telmex phone book of 2007.

Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and respective local areas where the phone numbers have 8 digits (from the old days), Lada regional code has two digits: 55, 33, and 81 respectively. That is why numbers from Guad are often shown (33) 1680-2900. The locals split them the way they like, by two sometimes which is easier to grasp.

The rest of the country where the phone numbers have 7 digits, Lada regional code has three digits. Those three digits should normally stay together (376) 761-9999 but the locals are not used to give it that way so they continue to give it by two.

[solajijic]

I thought it had more to do with the saying of the numbers, Nob I would say 555-1234 five-five-five-one-two-three-four, in single digits; here mexicans give me their number in double digits, so the last four would be told to me, once (12) trentaycuatro (34). So it would make sense to separate them in double digits.

[seewee]

I thought it had more to do with the saying of the numbers, Nob I would say 555-1234 five-five-five-one-two-three-four, in single digits; here mexicans give me their number in double digits, so the last four would be told to me, once (12) trentaycuatro (34). So it would make sense to separate them in double digits.

And where would you breathe? After 5551 234 or 55 1 234. You missed the point.

[Intercasa]

No to nit pick but once is 11 and doce is 12.

In the large cities where you know the area code (Guad is 33 and Mexico City is 55) they just use 8 digits like 3456 7890 or 9876 5432. The way they write numbers in Latin America differs a bit. My number is 33 1206 6662 or also 331 20 66 62 but I usually write it as 33 11 20 66 62.

These days with cell phones does anybody really remember any numbers including their own when all you have to do is press 2 or 3 buttons?

[hensley]

I don't even remember my own cell # but home I do.

When I was a kid in the country our number was 4-2082 then they went to 864-2082. I still remember that number and all my friends were 1 number at the end different.
How times have changed.

I do believe here that it is said in 2 number intervals.

[solajijic]

You are right, doce. And I misspelled trienta. Its all I can do to say them smoothly. I don't remember from college spanish that they were spelled "ie" and thank heavens I don't have to pay attention to that spelling stuff yet. But now I won't forget that spelling.

But Seewees observation about not being able to breathe between sets of numbers doesn't really make sense to me because since in double digits there are plenty of places to breathe.

but I usually write it as 33 11 20 66 62. in Intercasas number you'd breathe after veinta.

[bournemouth]

You are right, doce. And I misspelled trienta. Its all I can do to say them smoothly. I don't remember from college spanish that they were spelled "ie" and thank heavens I don't have to pay attention to that spelling stuff yet. But now I won't forget that spelling.

But Seewees observation about not being able to breathe between sets of numbers doesn't really make sense to me because since in double digits there are plenty of places to breathe.

but I usually write it as 33 11 20 66 62. in Intercasas number you'd breathe after veinta.

Treinta.

[jrod]

You are right, doce. And I misspelled trienta. Its all I can do to say them smoothly. I don't remember from college spanish that they were spelled "ie" and thank heavens I don't have to pay attention to that spelling stuff yet. But now I won't forget that spelling.

But Seewees observation about not being able to breathe between sets of numbers doesn't really make sense to me because since in double digits there are plenty of places to breathe.

but I usually write it as 33 11 20 66 62. in Intercasas number you'd breathe after veinta.

Think, and say, "vein", as in your arm: veinte, treinta. The dipthong creates one sound, similar to "vein" in English.

[seewee]

You are right, doce. And I misspelled trienta. Its all I can do to say them smoothly. I don't remember from college spanish that they were spelled "ie" and thank heavens I don't have to pay attention to that spelling stuff yet. But now I won't forget that spelling.

But Seewees observation about not being able to breathe between sets of numbers doesn't really make sense to me because since in double digits there are plenty of places to breathe.

but I usually write it as 33 11 20 66 62. in Intercasas number you'd breathe after veinta.

And how would you say or space: 3767760909. When I say 376-776 (together) )zero, nine, zero nine it is confusing for Mexicans who are used to say: 37-67-76-09-09. That is the same number. And believe me that's the way they separate the numbers when they give it out loud. Do you know what I mean by the logic of separation? The 376 and 776 should be kept together and said in one shot because they are three digits codes and not two digits code with the last number attached to the next.

[Paco Loco]

from Wikipedia:

In 1999 Mexico introduced the following new prefixes for use when making long distance calls from telephones in Mexico:

00 - international direct dialing (00 + country code + nat'l number)
including USA and Canada.
01 - domestic direct dialing (01 + area code + number)
02 - domestic operator dialing (02 + area code + number)
09 - international operator dialing (09 + country code + number)
including USA and Canada.

These codes are not used when calling Mexico from other countries. Such calls should be dialed using whatever international call prefix (such as +, 00, or 011) is required when making international calls from the country where the call originates.)

Mexican area codes are 3 digits long, except for Mexico City (55), Monterrey (81), Guadalajara (33) and their respective outlying areas.

Likewise, local numbers are 7 digits long, while Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara use 8 digit numbers. 8 digit numbers are commonly written two ways:

xxxx xxxx
xx xx xx xx