Approximate values of amount modifiers [duplicate]

This is an area of English that I consistently have trouble with. Consider the following sentences.

  1. I have a couple of books on my desk.
  2. I have a bunch of books on my desk.
  3. I have a number of books on my desk.
  4. I have a few books on my desk.
  5. I have several books on my desk.
  6. I have many books on my desk.

How many books, give or take, do I have on my desk in each case?

[digression: one example of how I tend to get these wrong is the following: not long ago, my wife (native speaker of American English) and me were out with a few friends from out of town. At one point I said "[famous landmark] is only two hundred meters from here", to which my wife replied "no, it's more like a a couple hundred meters".]


  1. I have a couple of books on my desk.

    2, no arguments. A couple is 2. NB: If the person saying it is a couple is wrong (maybe distance), it is unlikely to be more than 4 or 5 of that item / unit. Kudos @Bye

    two people or things of the same sort considered together.
    -- Google Dictionary

  2. I have a bunch of books on my desk.

    Same as a number - undefined:

    a number of things, typically of the same kind, growing or fastened together.
    -- Google Dictionary

  3. I have a number of books on my desk.

    Not defined, anywhere from 1 to 1000000...

    a quantity or amount
    -- Google Dictionary

  4. I have a few books on my desk.

    I go for 3 or 4

    a small number of.
    -- Google Dictionary.

  5. I have several books on my desk.

    Same as above in my opinion - 3 or 4

    more than two but not many.
    -- Google Dictionary

  6. I have many books on my desk.

    A lot, more than 10 I would say - but it depends on what you are referring - I have many pets could be 5+, there are many stars in the sky is 1,000,000,000+

    a large number of.
    -- Google Dictionary.