"several" in seven languages
Meaningseveral
Spanish
varios
/ˈbaɾjos/
other source · Latin VARIŌS 'various' (learned)
French
plusieurs
/plyzjœʁ/
other source · spoken Latin *PLŪSIŌRĒS, for PLŪRIŌRĒS 'more'
Invariable: plusieurs livres, plusieurs fois.
Italian
diversi
/diˈvɛrsi/
other source · Latin DĪVERSŌS 'different' (learned)
Also parecchi or vari.
Portuguese
vários
/ˈvaɾjus/
other source · Latin VARIŌS 'various' (learned)
Romanian
mai mulți
/maj multsʲ/
other source · Latin MAGIS 'more' + MULTŌS 'many'
fem.: mai multe
Catalan
diversos
/diˈbɛɾsus/
other source · Latin DĪVERSŌS 'different' (learned)
English
several
/ˈsɛvɹəl/
other source · Anglo-French several, from Medieval Latin SĒPARĀLIS 'separate'
English → ItalianseveraldiversiNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh.What English and Italian share
The story
Each language promoted a different word: Spanish 'various', French 'more', Italian 'different'. English several first meant 'separate'.
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In a sentence
- esHe estado allí varias veces.
- frJ'y suis allé plusieurs fois.
- itCi sono stato diverse volte.
- ptJá estive lá várias vezes.
- roAm fost acolo de mai multe ori.
- caHi he estat diverses vegades.
- enI've been there several times.
More in Little words
- a bit, a littleun pocoun peuun po'um poucopuținuna mica
- probablyprobablementeprobablementprobabilmenteprovavelmenteprobabilprobablement
- althoughaunquebien quesebbeneemboradeșitot i que
- behinddetrás dederrièredietroatrás deîn spateledarrere
- near, close bycercaprèsvicinopertoaproapea prop
- according tosegúnselonsecondosegundoconformsegons