If yes, what system of measure did they use before?
If no, what system of measure do they use now?
AFAIK here in Uruguay the metric system has been used for more than a century, I guess it´s the same with Argentina and Brazil.
Again, AFAIK the metric system is used in all South America.
Panama is a bit more metric than America. Not very.
OTOH most everything is imported. Stuff from America is non-metric. The rest is metric.
Mexico’s metric.
Apparently they used whatever measurements Spain (or Portugal) used to used
Here’s a page which lists old Argentine weights and land measures:
Here’s a slightly more detailed page, which covers California’s Spanish Colonial period - I would assume most of these measurements were used in Latin American during the same time too.
The page linked to has the definition and history of linear measurements, and it also has an internal link to a another page which covers area (and some weights). Quite detailed, in fact
I think pretty much all of latin america uses the metric system, here in argentina we certainly use it.
The only problem i have with it is the trouble i have reading D&D settings and manualas written in english.
I think pretty much all of latin america uses the metric system, here in argentina we certainly use it.
The only problem i have with it is the trouble i have reading D&D settings and manualas written in english.
Peru is totally metric. My wife is always asking me, “How many kilos is that?”
SirRay, I’m going to take the information (Argentinian stuff) home and impress my wife. She always talks about “cuadras” and “manzanas” and it suddenly makes sense. A cuadra of 425 feet is about the length of a block, and “dar la manzana” really does mean around the block! Of course that’s Mexican Spanish, but I have to assume they’re related.
I’d say it’s a lot more metric than the U.S., but probably the least metric in Latin America (excepting Puerto Rico, I suppose) due to American influence. Distances are in kilometers and meters, though inches (pulgadas) and feet (pies) are used in selling some things. Land is measured in sq. meters, hectares, and sq. kilometers. Stuff in the grocery store is mostly sold by grams, kilograms, and liters, with the exception of stuff imported from the U.S. (which usually has the metric equivalent on it anyway). Gas is sold by the U.S. gallon.
People occasionally refer to some archaic Spanish measures for a few items, but offhand I don’t recall the terms.