A few is three

[WindyWends]

(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?!

@WindyWends

🤣🤣no, a few can vary a lot depending on context, & several too

BUT DH is even ' more wrong' 🤣🤣than you!!

A couple is definitely 2 but there is no specific definition. As others have said it depends on context. It doesn't mean three though

My XH thought that several was just another word for seven.

A few is usually used to emphasise the lowness of the number. ‘We had a meal out booked but only a few people turned up.’ Only meaningful in that context- if the meal was booked for 20 people then a few could mean 6 people came. You’d never say ‘We had a meal out booked but only several people came.’ So a few is definitely less than several (I know you said that in your OP, this is just to the poster who had them the other way round!).

A couple is 2, hence partners are called couples.

a few could be anywhere from 3 and 5 but 5 might also be called several, over 5 definitely several 🤣

A couple is 2
A few is 3-6
A handful is 5
Several is 7

In my book

Depends on context.

If I go to the gym a few times a week it means 3, maybe even 2.

If I go out for a few drinks on Friday it could very well mean 10.

100% agree!

Yes a few is 3-6 maybe, not just 3

For me a couple is 2,
a few is 3-4
Some/Several is 4+

To me couple is 2/3, few is 4/5/6, several is 7+ 😂