English–German

“sparse” in German

German

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃpɛːɐ̯lɪç/

Example

Im Saal waren nur spärliche Zuschauer.

There were only a few spectators scattered around the hall.

Illustration for spärlich (sparse)

How to say “sparse” in German

“Sparse” in German is spärlich.

A few isolated lights appear across a wide, mostly dark landscape.

Full entry for spärlich: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with spärlich

Zur Forschungsfrage gibt es nur spärliche Belege.

There is only scant evidence for the research question.

Tips for using spärlich

  • Spärlich often suggests insufficiency or meagerness, while wenige can simply state a small number without that nuance.

“sparse” in other languages