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How to Say "several" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “several” is “algunos” — use 'algunos' when you mean 'some' or 'a few' of something, implying a quantity that is more than two but not a large number, often with a sense of being indefinite but present..

English → Spanish

algunos

/al-GOO-nohs//alˈɣunos/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'algunos' when you mean 'some' or 'a few' of something, implying a quantity that is more than two but not a large number, often with a sense of being indefinite but present.
A large woven basket filled with many red apples, with a small cluster of three apples lying clearly separated outside the basket.

Examples

Tengo algunos libros sobre la mesa.

I have some books on the table.

Necesito algunos minutos para terminar.

I need a few minutes to finish.

Algunos días son más difíciles que otros.

Some days are more difficult than others.

Matches the Noun

As an adjective, 'algunos' describes a noun and must match it. Use 'algunos' for masculine, plural things, like 'algunos chicos' (some boys).

The 'Alguno' Family

This word changes for gender and number: 'alguno/s' for masculine and 'alguna/s' for feminine. For example, 'algunas chicas' (some girls).

The 'Algún' Rule

Be careful! Before a singular masculine noun, 'alguno' shortens to 'algún'. For example, 'algún día' (some day), not 'alguno día'.

Gender Mismatch

Mistake: “Compré algunos manzanas.”

Correction: Compré algunas manzanas. 'Manzana' is a feminine word, so you need to use the feminine form 'algunas'.

Mixing up with 'Unos'

Mistake: “Vi algunos pájaros en el cielo.”

Correction: Vi unos pájaros en el cielo. While 'algunos' isn't strictly wrong, 'unos' is more common for simply saying 'some' birds. 'Algunos' often implies 'some of the birds' from a group.

varias

VAH-ree-ahs/ˈbaɾjas/

AdjectiveA1General
Choose 'varias' (or 'varios' for masculine nouns) to emphasize an indefinite but notable quantity, similar to 'several' or 'various,' suggesting a number that is more than a few and diverse.
A high quality illustration showing several distinct, bright red apples scattered lightly on a clean wooden table, illustrating an indefinite quantity.

Examples

Fui al mercado y compré varias frutas.

I went to the market and bought several fruits.

Tuvimos varias reuniones para discutir el plan.

We had various meetings to discuss the plan.

Hay varias formas de llegar a la estación.

There are several ways to get to the station.

Gender and Number Match

Remember, 'varias' is feminine and plural, so it must always describe a feminine plural thing (like 'flores' or 'puertas'). If you are describing masculine things, you must use 'varios'.

Placement

Like many quantifiers, 'varias' almost always goes directly before the thing it describes: 'Varias alumnas' (Several students), not 'alumnas varias'.

Mixing Genders

Mistake: “Compré varias libros.”

Correction: Compré varios libros. (Since 'libros' is masculine, you need 'varios'.)

diferente

/dee-feh-REN-teh//difeˈɾente/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'diferente' (or 'diferentes' for plural) when you want to highlight that there are multiple, distinct types or individuals, emphasizing variety rather than just quantity.
A collection of six distinct and colorful wooden blocks scattered on a floor, including a red cube, a blue pyramid, a green cylinder, a yellow star, an orange sphere, and a purple arch.

Examples

Hablé con diferentes personas sobre el problema.

I spoke with different people about the problem.

Hay diferentes maneras de resolver esto.

There are several ways to solve this.

La tienda vende diferentes tipos de queso.

The store sells different/various types of cheese.

Placement Before the Noun

To get this meaning ('various' or 'several'), diferentes almost always comes before the noun it describes. For example, diferentes libros means 'various books'.

Singular vs. Plural

Mistake: “Tengo diferente opción para ti.”

Correction: Tengo diferentes opciones para ti. This meaning of 'various' or 'several' is nearly always used in the plural form to talk about multiple things.

Choosing Between 'Algunos' and 'Varias'

Learners often confuse 'algunos' and 'varias' because both can mean 'some' or 'several.' The key is that 'algunos' focuses more on an indefinite but countable quantity (some, a few), while 'varias' emphasizes a larger, more diverse set of items or people.

Related Translations

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