menos

See also: ménos

Asturian

Etymology

From Latin minus.

Adverb

menos

1. less

   Esti pueblu ye menos guapu que'l to. ― This town is less nice than that one.

   Antonym: más

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Galician

Etymology

From Latin minus, comparative of parum.

Adverb

menos

1. less

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Ladino

Adverb

menos

1. less

   Synonym: manko

2. (often with definite article) least

   Synonym: manko

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Portuguese

Etymology

From Old Portuguese menos, displacing collateral form mẽos, from Latin minus, neuter of minor (“lesser; smaller”), comparative of parvus (“small”).

Pronunciation

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈme.nuʃ/
• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈme.nus/
  • (South Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈme.nos/

Adverb

menos (not comparable)

1. less (in lower degree)

   Aqui é menos frio. ― Here is less cold.

   Se trabalhares menos, cansarás menos. ― If you work less, you will tire less.

   Antonym: mais

Preposition

menos

1. except; but

   Li todos, menos o último. ― I read all, except the last one.

   Synonyms: exceto, fora

2. (mathematics) minus (indicates subtraction)

   Três menos dois é um. ― Three minus two is one.

Pronoun

menos m or f (plural menos)

1. fewer (a smaller number of), less (a smaller size or significance of)

   Menos pessoas correm. ― Fewer people run.

   Atirou com menos precisão. ― He shot with less precision.

   Antonym: mais

Usage notes

Some use the incorrect feminine plural menas.

Noun

menos m (plural menos)

1. minus sign (the symbol −)

   Synonym: sinal de menos

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Spanish

Etymology

From Latin minus, comparative of parum.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmenos/

Adverb

menos

1. less

   Antonym: más

2. (often with definite article) least

   Antonym: más

Usage notes

• used in forming the comparative of adjectives.
• with the definite article, used in forming the superlative of adjectives.

Adjective

menos (plural menos)

1. less, fewer

   Antonym: más

2. least, fewest

   Antonym: más

Preposition

menos

1. minus

   Dos menos uno son uno. ― Two minus one is one.

Noun

menos m (plural menos)

1. minus sign

Derived terms

• al menos
• a menos que
• cuanto menos, cuando menos
• echar de menos
• más o menos
• menos mal
• menospreciar
• por lo menos
• quien más, quien menos
• tener sus más y sus menos
• un día más un día menos

 

Further reading

• “menos” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.