What does poco in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word poco in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use poco in Spanish.

The word poco in Spanish means little, little, few, not many, not much, a bit, a little, a bit of, No way!, No way!, isn't that enough?, don't you think that's enough?, soon after, isn't it?, aren't they?, with just, with nothing more than, soon, shortly, soon after, shortly after, soon after, right after, just after, be forgetful, be scatterbrained, get a little closer, at least, if that weren't enough, on top of that, little by little, step by step, of little interest, of little or no value, a little bit of everything, too little, in no time, for a short time, do not bite off more than you can chew, in a little over [+ time period], in just under [+ time period], quickly, be approaching , be close to, not long ago, until recently, rarely go, hardly go, the little I know, the little I'm aware of, bit by bit, little by little, bit by bit, little by little, a bit more than, a little more than, around, do half heartedly, nearly, almost, no matter how little, as soon as, if that were not enough, be no small thing, be no mean feat, be quite a feat, laugh a little, have a little laugh, be over before you know it, not be enough, be beneath, hardly any, very little, very few, look down your nose at, be inexperienced, I could never overstate it, poorly qualified worker, some have so much while others have so little, and little more, and if that weren't enough. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word poco

little

adjetivo (una pizca)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Queda poca leche en el frigorífico.
There is little milk left in the fridge.

little

adjetivo (moderado, no mucho)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Hoy hace poco calor.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. He is a little extreme for my liking.

few, not many

adjetivo (escaso, limitado)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Hay pocas personas tan generosas como tú.
There are few (or: not many) people as generous as you.

not much

adverbio (no mucho)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Los alumnos han trabajado poco y deberán terminar los deberes en casa. Mi hijo come poco y por eso está tan delgado.
My son doesn't eat a lot and that's why he's so thin.

a bit, a little

locución adverbial (con baja intensidad)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Noto a Pedro un poco triste.
Pedro seems a little sad.

a bit of

(una pequeña cantidad)

Ponle un poco de azúcar al té, por favor.
Put a bit of sugar in the tea, please.

No way!

locución interjectiva (MX (expresa sorpresa)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡A poco! ¿Te vas a casar con él?

No way!

locución interjectiva (MX (expresa incredulidad)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¿A poco le creíste? ¡Se nota que es un mentiroso!

isn't that enough?, don't you think that's enough?

expresión (¿aún no es suficiente?) (ironic)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

soon after

locución preposicional (poco después de)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
A poco de haber llegado a la casa, se fue a dormir.
Soon after arriving home, she went to bed.

isn't it?, aren't they?

expresión (GT, MX (expresa confirmación) (confirmation)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
¿A poco no te gusta?; ¡pero si está delicioso!
What do you mean you don't like it? But it's delicious!

with just, with nothing more than

expresión (con mínimo esfuerzo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
A poco que lo intentes lo conseguirás.
Just by trying you'll succeed.

soon, shortly

locución adverbial (en unos minutos)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Voy en camino; llego al poco.
I'm on my way and I'll be there soon.

soon after, shortly after

locución adverbial (poco después)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Ernesto llegó a casa y al poco tiempo comenzó a llover.
It started raining shortly after Ernesto got home.

soon after, right after, just after

locución adverbial (poco después de)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Decidió dedicarse a la pintura al poco tiempo de conocer a Manet.
He decided to start painting soon after (or: right after) meeting Manet.

be forgetful, be scatterbrained

locución verbal (coloquial (olvidar con frecuencia)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Anda un poco flaco de memoria, nunca sabe dónde deja sus llaves.
He is a little forgetful, he never knows where he left his keys.

get a little closer

locución verbal (acercarse más)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Si te aproximas un poco mas verás mejor.
If you get a little closer you'll be able to see better.

at least

locución adverbial (al menos)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Si no puedes visitarlo como poco lo puedes llamar a saludar.
If you can't go and see him you could at least phone.

if that weren't enough, on top of that

expresión (encima)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Nos dijeron que el proyecto tendría un retraso de seis meses. Como si eso fuera poco, insinuaron que podría haber costos adicionales por hasta 50 000 dólares.

little by little

locución adverbial (AmL (poco a poco)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Ve poniendo las naranjas de a poco. Si las pones todas a la vez, se rompe la balanza.
Place the oranges little by little. If you put them all on at once, you'll break the scales.

step by step

locución adverbial (coloquial (poco a poco)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
De a pocos vas a conseguir lo que quieres.

of little interest

locución adjetiva (que no atrae)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Es una película de poco interés.
The film is of little interest.

of little or no value

locución adjetiva (arcaico (de poco valor)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Se consideraba a la clase media como negociantes de poco más o menos.

a little bit of everything

locución adverbial (coloquial (de todo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Esa tienda vende de todo un poco.
This store sells a little bit of everything.

too little

locución adjetiva (muy poco)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Fernando comió demasiado poco.
Fernando ate too little.

in no time

locución adverbial (pronto)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Dentro de poco será el cumpleaños de mi amiga.
It will be my friend's birthday in no time.

for a short time

locución adverbial (recientemente)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Martín trabaja en el gobierno desde hace poco.
Martin recently started working for the government.

do not bite off more than you can chew

expresión (no hacer mucho a la vez)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Una cosa a la vez; el que mucho abarca poco aprieta.

in a little over [+ time period]

locución preposicional (en mayor tiempo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
En poco más de dos semanas nos iremos de vacaciones a Miami.

in just under [+ time period]

locución adverbial (lapso: antes de)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
En poco menos de dos semanas cumpliré 18 años.

quickly

locución adverbial (en un rato)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
En esa posición, en poco tiempo vas a terminar acalambrado.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Sandra easily got the job and was quickly promoted.

be approaching , be close to

locución verbal (quedar poco rato para algo) (event)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not long ago

locución adverbial (recientemente)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Mi jefe perdió a su madre hace poco y aún está muy afectado.
My boss lost his mother a little while ago and he is still very upset.

until recently

locución adverbial (hasta recientemente)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Hasta hace poco Lucía no trabajaba, pero ya consiguió trabajo.
Until a short time ago, Lucia didn't work, but now she's found a job.

rarely go, hardly go

locución verbal (no ser asiduo)

Juan va poco al gimnasio.
Juan hardly goes to the gym.

the little I know, the little I'm aware of

expresión (lo poco que sé)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Lo poco que conozco de ese artista me gusta.
The little I know of that artist I like.

bit by bit, little by little

locución adverbial (lentamente)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Ve llenando poco a poco la botella, no se te vaya a derramar.
Fill the bottle up little by little so that it doesn't spill.

bit by bit, little by little

locución adverbial (en poca cantidad)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Ve poniendo las naranjas poco a poco; si las pones todas a la vez, se rompe la balanza.
Put the oranges on bit by bit. If you put them all on at once, you'll break the scales.

a bit more than, a little more than

locución adverbial (informal (algo más de)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Este teléfono cuesta poco más de 500 dólares.
This phone costs a little more than $500.

around

locución adverbial (casi, alrededor de)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Eran poco más o menos las tres de la tarde.

do half heartedly

locución verbal (actuar con desgana)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Si vas a hacer las cosas poniendo poco interés mejor no las hagas.
If you insist on going about things with hardly any interest you might as well do nothing.

nearly, almost

locución adverbial (casi)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Resbalé y por poco me caigo.
I slipped and I almost fell.

no matter how little

locución conjuntiva (aunque, pese a que)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Por poco que me paguen yo disfruto mi trabajo.

as soon as

locución conjuntiva (indica un requisito)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
Por poco que pueda, iré a visitarte.

if that were not enough

locución adverbial (por si no fuera suficiente)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Juan se comió todo mi almuerzo y por si eso fuera poco, ¡también el postre!
Juan ate all of my lunch, and to make matters worse, also my dessert!

be no small thing, be no mean feat, be quite a feat

expresión (que es considerable)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Sacó un notable en el examen, que no es poco.
He got an A on the test, which is no mean feat.

laugh a little, have a little laugh

locución verbal (reír brevemente)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Los empleados se rieron un poco y volvieron a concentrarse en su trabajo.
The employees laughed a little and returned to their work.

be over before you know it

locución verbal (quedarse con ganas de más) (event)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Las vacaciones siempre saben a poco.
Vacations are always over before you know it.

not be enough

(resultar insuficiente)

Lo que el gobierno pueda contribuir para esta crisis es poco.

be beneath

(desaprobación (ser de grupo social inferior)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Mi familia dice que mi novio es poco para mí.
My family says my boyfriend is beneath me.

hardly any, very little, very few

expresión (muy escaso)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Tenemos tan poco tiempo para hacer lo que necesitamos.
We've got very little (or: hardly any) time to get everything done.

look down your nose at

locución verbal (no valorar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
¿Por qué tienes en poco a Pedro? No tiene mucho dinero, pero es honesto y trabajador. Elena es una gran mujer, pero su marido la tiene en poco.
Why do you look down your nose at Pedro? He might not have much money, but he's honest and hardworking.

be inexperienced

locución verbal (tener poca picardía)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ricardo todavía es muy joven y tiene poco mundo: no debería viajar solo al extranjero.

I could never overstate it

expresión (no hay palabras para ello)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Todo lo que te diga es poco, mi casa es peor que un manicomio.
I could never overstate it, my house is worse than an insane asylum.

poorly qualified worker

(trabajador sin preparación)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

some have so much while others have so little

expresión (reparto injusto)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

and little more

expresión (casi nada más)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

and if that weren't enough

expresión (y por si no fuera suficiente)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
A Carlos lo insultaron y lo golpearon, y por si esto fuera poco, también le robaron todo el dinero que llevaba.

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Related words of poco

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Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.