poco
Lemma Details
Translation: little; few; a bit; not much; slightly; somewhat; a little
Part of Speech: adjective, adverb, pronoun
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'paucus' meaning 'few' or 'little'. This Latin root is related to English words like 'paucity' (scarcity) and 'pauper' (a poor person). The evolution from Latin 'paucus' to Spanish 'poco' shows a common phonetic shift where the Latin 'au' diphthong simplified to 'o' in Spanish, and the final consonant cluster was simplified.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Tengo poco dinero.
I have little money.
Hay pocos estudiantes en la clase.
There are few students in the class.
Habla un poco más despacio, por favor.
Speak a little slower, please.
Poco a poco aprenderás español.
Little by little you will learn Spanish.
Me gusta un poco el chocolate.
I like chocolate a little bit.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'poco' as 'paucity' in English (meaning scarcity or smallness in number).
- Remember 'poco' sounds like 'poke-o' - just a small poke, not a big one.
- The double 'o' in 'poco' looks like small eyes, reminding you it means 'little' or 'few'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'poco' is frequently used in everyday conversation to downplay or minimize things. The diminutive form 'poquito' is especially common in Latin American Spanish as a way to soften requests or statements. The phrase 'poco a poco' (little by little) reflects a cultural attitude toward gradual progress and patience.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: This is simply the feminine form of 'poco' used with feminine nouns.
This word:
Tengo poco tiempo.
I have little time.
Confused word:
Tengo poca paciencia.
I have little patience.
Notes: The gender agreement follows standard Spanish grammar rules.
Mnemonic: Remember: poco for masculine nouns, poca for feminine nouns.
Explanation: 'Poco' refers to quantity (few, little amount) while 'pequeño' refers to physical size (small).
Confused word:
Es una taza pequeña.
It's a small cup.
Notes: A common mistake for English speakers is using these interchangeably since 'little' in English can refer to both quantity and size.
Mnemonic: Poco = quantity (how much), pequeño = size (how big).