non
“non” means “odd” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
odd
Also: uneven
📝 In Action
El número cinco es un número non.
A1The number five is an odd number.
Vivimos en el lado de la calle con los números nones.
A2We live on the side of the street with the odd numbers.
En este juego, si sale un resultado non, tú pierdes.
B1In this game, if an odd result comes up, you lose.
refusal
Also: odd number
📝 In Action
Le pedí salir, pero me dijo que nones.
B2I asked her out, but she said no way.
Aposté al non y salió el par.
B2I bet on the odd (number) and the even came up.
Siempre elige los nones para su equipo.
B2He always chooses the odd numbers for his team.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: non
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is a 'número non'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'non', which means 'not'. In the context of numbers, it came from the phrase 'non par', meaning 'not even'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'non' the same as 'no'?
Historically they shared the same root, but in modern Spanish, 'no' is used to negate things, while 'non' is almost exclusively used to mean 'odd' (as in numbers).
Should I use 'non' or 'impar'?
Both are correct! 'Impar' is more common in formal mathematics and textbooks, while 'non' is common in games, gambling, and certain regional dialects.
What is the game 'pares y nones'?
It is a game similar to 'rock-paper-scissors' where two players show a number of fingers and you win based on whether the total sum is even (par) or odd (non).