In English 1886 would be pronounced "eighteen-eighty six." In Spanish, is there something similar? Or do people outright say:
El año mil ochocientos ochenta y seis
In English 1886 would be pronounced "eighteen-eighty six." In Spanish, is there something similar? Or do people outright say:
El año mil ochocientos ochenta y seis
Yes, in Spanish there is generally no way to abbreviate the years. The only time it is used is referring to the years in the XX century. Example:
Do you remember that concert back in eighty-nine?
Recuerdas ese concierto en el ochenta y nueve?
Other than in that case, the full year is pronounced. Even for this century's years.
Do you remember that concert in two thousand and five?
Recuerdas ese concierto en el dos mil cinco?
In Puerto Rico, we use a short form like "mil ocho ochenta y seis"
The way to say years is the same as it would be a normal number, there is no distinction whether the number is a quantity or a year. So you are right with your example:
El año 1886.
El año mil ochocientos ochenta y seis.