NumbersvsnúmeroWhat's the difference?

Quick tell: Numbers is a name, número is a noun, so they fill different roles in a sentence.

Which to use

“Numbers” is a name and “número” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.

#49,824
“Numbers” frequency rank
#282
“número” frequency rank
50106
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Numbers número
Definition Números. Cantidad con relación a su unidad.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Numbers and número apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

7 ch
Numbers
6 ch
número

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: Numbers is ['nʌm.bʌɾs] while número is [ˈnumeɾo]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (name vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 50106, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

Numbers is recorded at frequency rank #49,824, classified as aname, pronounced ['nʌm.bʌɾs]. número is at rank #282, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈnumeɾo].

Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.

With a confusion score of 50106, this pair ranks #105,047 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Orthographic DNA of Numbers vs número

Shared letters: emnr. Private to "Numbers": bsu. Private to "número": .

"Numbers" · 7 letters · shape CVCCVCC  ·  "número" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV

Known mistypes of this pair

  • Numbersnmubers · nnumbers · nubmers · numbbers · numberrs · numberss · numbesr · numbres

Frequency comparison

Numbers#49,824
número#282

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "Numbers" and "número" be used interchangeably?
No - they are not even the same part of speech. "Numbers" is a name and "número" a noun, so a sentence built for one is usually ungrammatical with the other.
Which is more common, "Numbers" or "número"?
"número" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #282 in our Spanish list, against #49,824 for "Numbers". That is a wide gap, so in ordinary text the rarer spelling is the one worth double-checking.

Remembering Numbers vs número

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

  • Check the role first: if you need a name, it's “Numbers”; for a noun, it's “número”.
  • See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “Numbers” entry
  • Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list