Although the adjectivevarios looks like it should mean "various," it is usually best thought of as meaning "several" or words or phrases of similar meaning such as "some," "a few" or "a number of." Except when the speaker is seeking a literary or poetic effect, varios is almost always placed before the noun it refers to.

• Un conductor borracho chocó contra varios coches aparcados. A drunken driver collided with several parked cars.

• Es posible enviar un mensaje a varias personas. It is possible to send a message to several people.
• Mi madre es autor de varios libros. My mother is an author of several books.
• Dígame en varias palabras que significa la familia para usted. Tell me in a few words what the family means to you.

The phrase "uno o varios" (or its feminine counterpart, "una o varias") can be used to mean "one or more": Puedes compartir un enlace con uno o varios amigos. You can share a link with one or more friends.

The singular form, vario or varia, is seldom used. It typically refers to something with multiple characteristics: Yo pasaré hoy por todas tus ovejas, poniendo aparte todas las reses manchadas y de color vario. I will pass today over all your sheep, removing all the spotted and speckled animals.

The English word "various" should be translated as varios only if you're using it to mean "several." If you're referring to different kinds, usually you can use diferentes or diversos: Viajaron a diferentes lugares con la única intención de divertirse.

They traveled to various places with the intention only of enjoying themselves.

Etymology:Varios comes from the Latin varius and is related to English words such as "vary," "variety" and "various." It is also related to the Spanish verb variar, which usually means to change or to vary.