several

The word “several” means more than two or three, but not very many. In plain terms, a small but more-than-a-couple number of things, or things that are each separate.

“Several” is pronounced SEHV-ruhl (/ˈsɛv.(ə.)ɹəl/ in IPA).

Here is “several” used in a sentence: “I've read several of his books.”

Depending on how it is used, “several” can be a det and an adjective.

The word “several” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ ("separate"). Not related to "seven" or "severe" despite the similar spelling.

“Several” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Several” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: more than two or three, but not very many.

These words are unrelated despite looking similar. "Several" is a determiner meaning more than two or three but not many, as in "several friends." "Severe" is an adjective meaning very serious, harsh, or intense, as in "severe weather." Mixing them up is easy in writing but changes the meaning completely.

There is no fixed number, but "several" generally suggests more than two or three and fewer than about seven or eight. It sits between "a couple," meaning two, and "many," which implies a large amount. The exact figure depends on context, so "several" is deliberately approximate rather than precise.

Both refer to more than a couple, but they differ in scale. "Several" means a modest number, a handful rather than a crowd. "Many" implies a large amount. Saying "several people came" suggests a small group, while "many people came" suggests a big turnout. The line between them is flexible.