unas
“unas” means “some” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
some
Also: a few
📝 In Action
Tengo unas preguntas para ti.
A1I have some questions for you.
Necesito unas tijeras nuevas.
A1I need some new scissors.
Vimos unas casas muy bonitas en el pueblo.
A2We saw some very beautiful houses in the town.
about
Also: around, approximately
📝 In Action
La reunión empieza en unas dos horas.
A2The meeting starts in about two hours.
Había unas cincuenta personas en la fila.
A2There were about fifty people in the line.
El libro cuesta unas veinte libras.
B1The book costs around twenty pounds.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: unas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses `unas` to mean 'about' or 'approximately'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word `ūnus`, meaning 'one'. Its plural form, `ūnās`, was the feminine accusative plural, which evolved in Spanish to mean 'some' or 'a few'.
First recorded: Found in the earliest forms of Spanish, around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between `unas` and `algunas`?
They are very similar and often you can use either one for 'some'. `Algunas` can sometimes feel a little more specific, like 'some, but not others', while `unas` is more general. As a beginner, you can treat them as almost the same.
Why does `unas` have to match the gender of the noun? English doesn't do that!
You're right, it's a big difference from English! In Spanish, many words that describe things (like articles and adjectives) change their endings to 'agree' with the noun they describe. It's a key feature of the language. So, for a feminine plural noun like `casas`, you need the feminine plural article `unas`.