many
ma·ny/ˈmɛni/determiner, pronoun, noun, adjective
many is spelled M-A-N-Y: 4 letters and 2 syllables (ma·ny). It appears 813 times per million words in written English, the 132nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a determiner, many means “before a countable noun: A large, indefinite number of” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in many?
| Letters | 4: M-A-N-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: ma·ny |
| In writing | 813 times per million words; the 132nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with | |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is many?
Many appears 813 times per million words in written English, the 132nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce many?
- UK /ˈmɛni/
- US /ˈmɛni/
- /ˈmɪni/
Many has 2 syllables, split ma·ny in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-uk-many.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Back_ache-many.wav, En-us-many.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with many?
3 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as many from its last stressed vowel (/ɛni/):
Spelled with the same letters in another order: myna.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of many
- more comparative
- most superlative
- manies plural, rare
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does many mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
determiner
- 1
before a countable noun: A large, indefinite number of.
Not many such people enjoyed playing chess.
- 2
before a countable noun: (in combinations such as 'as many', 'so many', 'this many') Used to indicate, demonstrate or compare the number of people or things.
We don't need this many bananas. Put some back.
pronoun
- 1
A large, indefinite number of people or things.
Many are called, but few are chosen.
noun
- 1
A multitude; a great aggregate; a mass of people; the generality; the common herd.
Democracy must balance the rights of the few against the will of the many.
- 2
A considerable number.
adjective
- 1
Existing in large number; numerous.
I was among the many visitors to that town.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Many in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | beaucoup de, de nombreux, plusieurs , beaucoup, un grand nombre , le plus grand nombre |
| German | viele |
| Portuguese | muitos, muitas , massa, multidão |
| Spanish | muchos, muchas |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does many come from?
From Middle English many, mani, moni, from Old English maniġ, moniġ, maneġ (“many”), from Proto-West Germanic *manag, from Proto-Germanic *managaz (“many; much”), from Proto-Indo-European *menegʰ-, *mengʰ- (“many, sufficient”) or Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂- (“big, great”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).