# Why is the word number abbreviated No.?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-word-number-abbreviated-no/27697>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 1, 2000, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-word-number-abbreviated-no/27697 "2000-08-01T14:05:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![spluurtaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@spluurtaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spluurtaf)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-word-number-abbreviated-no/27697/1 "2000-08-01T14:05:57Z")

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Really, is this an abbreviation in latin like Lbs. for pounds?

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**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-word-number-abbreviated-no/27697/2 "2000-08-01T14:12:12Z")

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Yes. Numero.

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-word-number-abbreviated-no/27697/3 "2000-08-01T16:45:23Z")

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Ablative case of Latin “numerus”, “number”.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-word-number-abbreviated-no/27697/4 "2000-08-01T18:56:43Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by spluurtaf \*  
> \*\*Really, is this an abbreviation in latin like Lbs. for pounds? \*\*

**lbs.** is nonstandard. The proper abbreviation for “pounds” and “pound” alike is **lb.** , standing for the Latin _libra_ or _librae_.