un poco más
/un poko mas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "a little more" is translated into Spanish as un poco más.
This phrase is used to describe an additional small amount of something. While un poco by itself simply means "a little," adding más specifies that you are referring to an increase or an additional amount.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase un poco más is composed of un (a), poco (little) and más (more).
Which one should you use?
Use un poco más to refer to an additional amount, whereas un poco alone simply means a little without the implication of an increase.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase un pelín más is used informally in Spain and some Latin American countries. In some Latin American countries, especially Mexico, un cachito más is a common informal and affectionate alternative.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use this phrase followed by a noun, you must add the preposition de before that noun, such as in the phrase un poco más de sal (a little more salt).
Did you know?
- In Spain, the informal phrase un pelín más uses pelín, which is a diminutive of pelo meaning 'hair'. It literally suggests adding an amount as thin as a single hair.
- The word más shares its ancient roots with the English word 'master', both descending from the Latin 'magister'.
- Spanish uses the word poco for both 'a little' and 'few', whereas English strictly separates 'little' for uncountable things and 'few' for countable things.
Examples in context
- Sólo un poco más.Just a little more.This sentence shows how to use un poco más to express a minimal addition.Tatoeba #1001427 by Shishir, translation #495631 by FeuDRenais
- Espera un poco más.Wait a little more.This sentence demonstrates using un poco más to ask someone to wait a bit longer.Tatoeba #7778562 by arh, translation #9166426 by DJ_Saidez
- Dame un poco más de agua.Give me a little more water.This sentence illustrates the grammar rule of using un poco más followed by the preposition de before a noun.Tatoeba #1596579 by teskmon, translation #31259 by CK
- ¿Podría darme un poco más de información, por favor?Could you give me a little more information, please?
- Necesito un tanto más de tiempo para terminar el informe.I need a little more time to finish the report.
- ¡Pon un poquito más de azúcar en el café, por favor!Put a little more sugar in the coffee, please!
- ¿Me alcanzas un pelín más de pizza?Can you pass me a little more pizza?
- Dame un cachito más de tu helado, por favor.Give me a little more of your ice cream, please.
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are eating dinner at a restaurant.
- Mateo¿Quieres un poco más de pasta, Sofía?Do you want a little more pasta, Sofía?
- SofíaNo, gracias, ya estoy llena.No, thanks, I am full.
- MateoEstá muy buena, ¿verdad?It is very good, right?
- SofíaSí, Mateo, es deliciosa.Yes, Mateo, it is delicious.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries más, poco, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
