Spanish Conversation · Level 6
89 words
Spanish word
poco
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈpoko/
Meaning
- adverba little, not much
Example
Como poco porque estoy a dieta.
I eat a little because I'm on a diet.
More examples
Duermo poco cuando tengo mucho trabajo.
I don't sleep much when I have a lot of work.
Core concept
Small amount.
Common phrases
comer poco
eat little
beber poco
drink little
un poco
a little
Similar words
un poco: Small, definite amount or degree; some but limited quantity.
algo: Slight degree or small amount; mildly noticeable extent.
apenas: Barely any occurrence or existence; hardly any.
un tanto: Moderate or appreciable degree; somewhat noticeable extent.
Definition in Spanish
Significa 'en pequeña cantidad' o 'levemente', usado para reducir o limitar lo dicho.
Word origin
Comes from Latin paucus 'few', entering Spanish through Romance changes and extending from an adjective for 'few' to an adverb meaning 'slightly' or in small quantity.
Usage tips
- 'Poco' often contrasts with 'un poco': 'poco' implies scarcity or a limited degree and commonly modifies verbs (habla poco = speaks little) while 'un poco' denotes some amount.