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cifra

figure, number

noun SEE-frah Less Common
Numbers & Measures Measurements

Origin: From Arabic sifr (zero, cipher).

Also means

digit

Usage Note

Cifra denotes a numerical figure or statistic (las cifras del paro, the unemployment figures) and also a single digit. The idiom en cifras means 'in numbers/figures.' Its Arabic origin is shared with English 'cipher' — a reminder of the Arab world's transmission of the decimal number system to Europe.

Examples

"Las cifras de ventas superaron las expectativas."

Natural Translation

The sales figures exceeded expectations.

Literal Translation

The figures of sales exceeded the expectations

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