bastante
Lemma Details
Translation: enough; quite; rather; fairly; plenty; sufficient; considerably
Part of Speech: adverb, adjective, pronoun
Etymology: Derived from the Old Spanish 'bastar' (to be sufficient), which comes from Latin 'bastare' (to be enough). The Latin term is related to Greek 'bastazein' meaning 'to lift, carry, bear'. The suffix '-ante' is a present participle ending similar to English '-ing'. The word evolved to express sufficiency or adequacy, with its meaning extending to indicate a considerable degree or quantity.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Ya he comido bastante.
I have already eaten enough.
El examen fue bastante difícil.
The exam was quite difficult.
Hay bastantes personas en la fiesta.
There are quite a few people at the party.
Tengo bastante dinero para el viaje.
I have enough money for the trip.
Bastante bien, gracias.
Fairly well, thank you.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'bastante' as 'vast amount' - something that's sufficient or plenty.
- Remember that 'basta' means 'enough' or 'stop', and 'bastante' extends this idea to 'enough-ish' or 'quite enough'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish, 'bastante' is very versatile and frequently used in everyday conversation. Unlike English where 'enough' typically indicates the minimum required amount, 'bastante' can also suggest abundance or a considerable quantity. It's used more liberally than its English counterparts and can soften statements when used as a modifier.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'bastante' means 'enough' or 'quite', 'mucho' means 'a lot' or 'much'. 'Bastante' indicates sufficiency or a moderate degree, whereas 'mucho' indicates abundance or a high degree.
Confused word:
La comida es muy buena.
The food is very good.
Notes: 'Bastante' can sometimes be translated as 'quite a lot' in certain contexts, which can cause confusion with 'mucho'.
Mnemonic: 'Bastante' is 'enough to satisfy', while 'mucho' is 'much more than needed'.
Explanation: 'Bastante' means 'enough' or 'quite', while 'demasiado' means 'too much' or 'excessive'. 'Bastante' generally has a positive or neutral connotation of sufficiency, while 'demasiado' implies excess beyond what is desirable.
This word:
He comido bastante.
I have eaten enough.
Confused word:
He comido demasiado.
I have eaten too much.
Notes: The distinction is important as using 'demasiado' when you mean 'bastante' could imply criticism or complaint.
Mnemonic: Think of 'bastante' as 'just right' and 'demasiado' as 'too much'.