fewer

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English fewere, equivalent to few +‎ -er. === Pronunciation === (US) IPA(key): /ˈfjuː.ɚ/ Rhymes: -uːə(ɹ) === Determiner === fewer (superlative fewest) comparative degree of few; a smaller number. ==== Usage notes ==== Some[*] regard the use of the determiner less with countable quantities to be incorrect, stating that less should indicate only a reduction in uncountable quantity, or in size or significance, leaving fewer to indicate a smaller numerical quantity. For example, they suggest saying less sugar, but fewer people, not less people. Such a rule can allow distinctions such as: Their troubles are fewer than ours, meaning "Their troubles are not so numerous as ours." Their troubles are less than ours, meaning "Their troubles are not so great as ours." Nevertheless, less has been widely understood and commonly used as a synonym for fewer since it first appeared in Old English as læs. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === less == Old English == === Numeral === fēwer (Northumbrian) alternative form of fēower