A few is three | Mumsnet

WindyWends · 2023-04-17T06:40:46+00:00

(Lighthearted) DH and I can't agree that: 'A couple of times' is two A 'few' is three And several is 4+ times. So, I go to the shop a couple of times a week (twice) I run a few times a week (three sessions) and gym 4+ times a week (so I go several times). DH thinks a few means two or three and several times means like 10+ times a week. Who's right?!

Velvian · 17/04/2023 07:43

A few means about 3 to 5 to me. Definitely doesn't mean 2.

Hellocatshome · 17/04/2023 07:44

A couple is 2 after that there are no rules.

PussBilledDuckyPlait · 17/04/2023 07:45

'Few' depends on context and how many would be an average amount.

Albaniarocks · 17/04/2023 07:45

It all depends on context. A few could mean 20 if you invited 100 people to a party but only a few turned up. A couple is strictly 2, but could mean more if you only had "a couple of biscuits".

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 17/04/2023 07:45

I think a few means 3 or 4.

Several is maybe 3-5?

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 17/04/2023 07:46

But yes, I agree it depends on context.

JagerPlease · 17/04/2023 07:48

Oh yes, context totally everything. Several can also mean 3 if it's "I've already asked you several times to get dressed!"

Random789 · 17/04/2023 07:49

Damn, thinking about this thread has made the word 'few' go weird for me. I can't even believe it's a real word now. Or if it is, I think it must mean some variety of small garden bird.

Original poster

WindyWends · 17/04/2023 07:49

I've always thought 'a few' categorically means three, like a couple means two. It's cemented in my mind!

OP posts:

bcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyza · 17/04/2023 07:49

Couple of times means 2/3
Few times mean more than 4
Several times means a regular thing.

Thinking like if I went to a cafe/restaurant.

Random789 · 17/04/2023 07:57

I think the real difference between few and several is that few is used to emphasise the smallness of the number, whereas several is more neutral (and can also have the opposite emphasis in some contexts).
Eg the RAF pilots who took part in the Battle of Britain were called The Few to emphasise Britain's plucky success against the odds at that time. I'm sure there were more than three, but I can't imagine them being called The Several

Original poster

WindyWends · 17/04/2023 08:14

Random789 · 17/04/2023 07:57

I think the real difference between few and several is that few is used to emphasise the smallness of the number, whereas several is more neutral (and can also have the opposite emphasis in some contexts).
Eg the RAF pilots who took part in the Battle of Britain were called The Few to emphasise Britain's plucky success against the odds at that time. I'm sure there were more than three, but I can't imagine them being called The Several

😂

OP posts:

Stripycatz · 17/04/2023 08:17

But how many is 'some'?
I think a few is 3-4
Some is 4-7
Several is 7+

Ladybird2023 · 17/04/2023 08:18

A few is 3-5, several is 5-9

Claridges12 · 17/04/2023 08:29

I've just read some information on applying for a job. It says that the process takes between a few months and several months. This makes no sense to me. To me, "a few" means around 6 or 7, and "several" means 4 or 5. "A couple" doesn't mean 2 - it means 2 or 3. If you mean 2, then just say 2.

shivbo2014 · 17/04/2023 08:34

I agree OP.

Original poster

WindyWends · 17/04/2023 08:38

Claridges12 · 17/04/2023 08:29

I've just read some information on applying for a job. It says that the process takes between a few months and several months. This makes no sense to me. To me, "a few" means around 6 or 7, and "several" means 4 or 5. "A couple" doesn't mean 2 - it means 2 or 3. If you mean 2, then just say 2.

A few is less than several, though?

So your example, would mean they describe between 3-4/5+ months.

A couple has always clearly meant two, to me! Definitely not three. As three is a few!

OP posts:

IamSuperTired · 17/04/2023 08:39

A couple is definitely 2!

A few can vary!! I'd maybe say 3 to 5 (but in the extremely unlikely case I ran 6 or 7 times a week, I might say 'i run a few times a week' to under play the amount I run ... So I guess 'a few' could be quite a lot!!)

Several - that's maybe quite a lot. Not always more than a 'few', but sometimes! So maybe 4 to 6 times a week!

SparklyBlackKitten · 17/04/2023 08:40

Both wrong

Pythonesque · 17/04/2023 08:40

I agree that "few" is a pretty flexible number. Usually means more than 2 (though in some contexts could mean eg 2-5), certainly is never a fixed "3".

However, I think in your quoted contexts, 4 days a week could count as "several". Hmm taking this idea to an extreme, consider 7 days' exercise - "I exercised a few times this year", vs "I exercised every day this week" ...

pussycatinfluffyslippers · 17/04/2023 08:44

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 17/04/2023 07:45

I think a few means 3 or 4.

Several is maybe 3-5?

I agree.

Wonderful language, English.

SocksAndTheCity · 17/04/2023 08:45

Stripycatz · 17/04/2023 08:17

But how many is 'some'?
I think a few is 3-4
Some is 4-7
Several is 7+

And 10+ is loads 😀

60smusic · 17/04/2023 08:49

A couple is definitely two, that's what's in dictionaries, like a couple of items, a couple - two people etc. I learned single is one and couple is two in school.

It pisses me off when people say to me that they're going on holiday for a couple of weeks and come home after 10 days and insist that 10 days is a couple of weeks. No... It's 2 weeks.

After that anything goes, a few, several can mean any length or amount.

foulksmills · 17/04/2023 08:51

I don't think 4 is enough to be several. There might be the odd context where it might work, but I can't think of any.

OnlyFannys · 17/04/2023 08:54

WindyWends · 17/04/2023 07:49

I've always thought 'a few' categorically means three, like a couple means two. It's cemented in my mind!

No sorry OP this is definitely incorrect, there is no categorical number for a few. It just refers to a small number (which can be 3 but not as a set amount). I would say 3-5 and several as 4-7