"Tres" is the Spanish numeral for the number three. It is used in both oral and written contexts to indicate quantity or order in counting. The frequency of use is high, as it is part of everyday language utilized in various situations, such as counting objects, telling time, or indicating location in a series (e.g., the third item).
Spanish: Hay tres manzanas en la mesa.
English: There are three apples on the table.
Spanish: El libro tiene tres capítulos.
English: The book has three chapters.
Spanish: Tres amigos fueron al cine anoche.
English: Three friends went to the movies last night.
While "tres" itself is not frequently part of idiomatic expressions, it can be included in phrases or sayings that emphasize the importance of the number three in various cultures, particularly in contexts like tradition or symbolism.
Spanish: El tercero en discordia.
English: The third party (often refers to a person involved in a dispute or a situation).
Spanish: A dos no les gusta, a tres se gusta.
English: Two people do not like it, but three people enjoy it. (This saying emphasizes that sometimes, a group can find joy in something that individuals dislike.)
Spanish: La tercera es la vencida.
English: The third time's the charm. (Meaning that after two failures, success is expected on the third attempt.)
The word "tres" comes from the Latin word "tres," which also meant three. The retention of the form and meaning from Latin to Spanish is a common feature of the evolution of the Romance languages.
Synonyms: As a numeral, "tres" does not have direct synonyms. However, it can be classified in groups such as un par (a couple) when referring to two entities or un grupo (a group) when referring to more than one.
Antonyms: The primary antonym is uno (one) as it represents the singular form whereas "tres" indicates a plural value.