númerovsnúmerosWhat's the difference?

Which to use

“número” and “números” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#282
“número” frequency rank
#1,612
“números” frequency rank
1894
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature número números
Definition Cantidad con relación a su unidad. Forma del plural de número.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set número and números apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

6 ch
número
7 ch
números

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

A purely visual mix-up. número ([ˈnumeɾo]) and números ([ˈnumeɾos]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by 1 extra letter(s) - “número” sits inside “números”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 1894, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

número is recorded at frequency rank #282, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈnumeɾo]. números is at rank #1,612, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈnumeɾos].

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 1894, this pair ranks #321,313 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Orthographic DNA of número vs números

Shared letters: emnorú. Private to "número": -. Private to "números": s.

"número" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV  ·  "números" · 7 letters · shape CVCVCVC

Frequency comparison

número#282
números#1,612

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "número" and "números" be used interchangeably?
No. They are said differently ([ˈnumeɾo] versus [ˈnumeɾos]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "número" or "números"?
"número" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #282 in our Spanish list, against #1,612 for "números". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering número vs números

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

  • Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
  • See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “número” 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