un número
/un numeɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "a number" is translated into Spanish as un número.
The phrase un número can be used to refer to a mathematical digit, a telephone number or a ticket or sequence number used in waiting lines.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the indefinite article un (a/an) and the noun número (number).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because número is a masculine noun, the indefinite article must be the masculine form un.
How do you pronounce it?
/un numeɾo/
Did you know?
- While 'un número' means 'a number' in a mathematical sense, if you say hacer un número in some contexts, it can mean to perform a musical or theatrical act, similar to 'doing a number' in English.
- The Spanish word número descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *nem-, which originally meant 'to assign' or 'to allot' rather than just to count.
- If you are looking for a specific size of clothing, you might ask for el número or la talla, depending on whether the country follows systems based on numbers or dimensions.
Examples in context
- Saque un número allí.Get a number over there.Tatoeba #5711702 by arh, translation #5827398 by arh
- Limítate a coger un número.Just take a number.Tatoeba #4554646 by swyter, translation #3726299 by CM
- Tom está marcando un número.Tom is dialling a number.Tatoeba #1661443 by marcelostockle, translation #1661202 by Amastan
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are waiting in line at a clinic.
- SofíaDaniel, ¿tienes un número?Daniel, do you have a number?
- DanielNo, no he cogido un número todavía.No, I haven't taken a number yet.
- SofíaVe rápido a por un número.Go quickly and get a number.
- DanielVale, voy ahora mismo.Okay, I'm going right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries número, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
