Several vs Some

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Several

Top 1,000 (very common) A2

Some

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 determiner

	Several	Some
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsevrəl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsevrəl/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/sʌm/","/səm//sʌm/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/sʌm/","/səm//sʌm/"]/
Meaning	more than two but not many	a small amount or number of something
Example	Several letters arrived this morning.	Some people enjoy hiking in the mountains.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A2	A1
Part of speech		determiner
Collocations	several examples, several options, several people, several times, several steps	some time, some help, some people, some money, some food
Antonyms	few, single	none
Common mistakes	Using 'several' to mean 'many'., Confusing 'several' with 'a few' — 'a few' suggests a smaller number., Using 'several' with singular nouns.	'Some' cannot be used with plural uncountable nouns. e.g., it's wrong to say 'some rice' when referring to an unspecified quantity., Confusing 'some' with 'any' in negative sentences., Using 'some' in questions when expecting a negative response.
Usage notes	Used to indicate an unspecified number of items greater than two. It's generally appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid it in very formal contexts where specific numbers are preferred.	Use 'some' when you want to express an indefinite quantity. It is often used in questions where we expect a positive answer. Avoid using it in very formal contexts where precise quantities are required.

See it in real clips

The Queen Gambit › S1 E1

Now, which is why we should be drinking several glasses of water a day,

after being slapped several times by his father.

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

White gold and several carats worth of zircons.

The Queen Gambit › S1 E1

Now, which is why we should be drinking several glasses of water a day,

after being slapped several times by his father.

Several

Frequently asked questions: Several vs Some

What's the difference between Several and Some?

Several: more than two but not many Some: a small amount or number of something

Which is more advanced: Several and Some?

Several is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Several and Some the same CEFR level?

Several: A2, Some: A1 on the CEFR scale.

Can you show an example of each?

Several: Several letters arrived this morning. Some: Some people enjoy hiking in the mountains.

Can I use Several and Some interchangeably?

Not always. Several and Some are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.