um pouco
/ũ ˈpo(w).ku/
In Portuguese, 'a little' is said as um pouco.
Um pouco is a common and general way of saying 'a little' in Portuguese.
Meaning: to a small extent or degree (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase um pouco is composed of um (a/one) and pouco (little/few).
Which one should you use?
While um pouco is often used to mean 'a little' (positive/neutral), using just pouco often emphasizes a lack of something (negative/scarcity).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, um bocadinho is an informal way to say 'a little'. In some regions of Brazil, um tanto or uma pitada can be used to convey the idea of 'a little'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ũ ˈpo(w).ku/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word pouco comes from the Latin 'paucus', which is the direct ancestor of the English word 'paucity', meaning a scarcity of something.
- In some Brazilian regions, um tanto can paradoxically be used to mean 'a little', despite tanto usually meaning 'so much'.
- If you want to sound like a local in Portugal, you can replace um pouco with um bocadinho, which uses the word for 'mouth' to suggest a tiny morsel.
Examples in context
- Me dê um pouco.Give me a little.This example is useful for practicing how to request a small amount using um pouco.Tatoeba #5025047 by bill, translation #1034563 by Brian255
- Tô um pouco gordo.I'm a little fat.This sentence shows how to use um pouco to describe a physical state.Tatoeba #5995390 by gustavoalves, translation #5858239 by CK
- Ele bebeu um pouco.He drank a little.This sentence demonstrates using um pouco to describe an amount of something consumed.Tatoeba #1206551 by alexmarcelo, translation #299592 by CK
- Eu falo um pouco de portuguêsI speak a little Portuguese
- Eu gostaria de uma pequena quantidadeI'd like a little
- Só um pouquinho, por favorJust a little, please
- Eu sei um tiquinhoI know a little
- 716 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Rodrigo are discussing their progress in a cooking class.
- JulianaRodrigo, você entende a receita?Rodrigo, do you understand the recipe?
- RodrigoEntendo um pouco, mas é difícil.I understand a little, but it is difficult.
- JulianaEu também estou um pouco confusa.I am also a little confused.
- RodrigoNão se preocupe, vamos aprender.Don't worry, we will learn.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “a little” translations and entries um pouco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pouco, um, um pouco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
