casi
/ˈkasi/
The English phrase 'almost' is translated into Spanish as casi. Wiktionary also lists por poco.
Meaning: very close to (adv)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| casi | /ˈkasi/ |
| por poco | /poɾ ˈpoko/ |
Casi is a common and neutral way to say 'almost' in Spanish. You can use it to express that something is very close to a state or an action, such as in the phrase casi todas for 'almost all' (feminine). Other related expressions include casi nunca for 'almost never' and prácticamente for 'practically,' which is used when something is very close to being complete or accomplished.
Which one should you use?
While casi is the standard term, por poco is another way to express 'almost' in certain contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Mexico, particularly in the Yucatan Peninsula, the word ya is used to convey the meaning of 'almost.'
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkasi/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word casi is a 'semi-learned' borrowing from the Latin quasi, meaning it was adopted into Spanish through scholarly rather than popular linguistic evolution.
- Spanish speakers often use the phrase casi casi to emphasize that something is extremely close to happening or being true.
- In Spanish, por poco is often used to describe 'near misses' where something negative was narrowly avoided. This differs from casi, which is more general.
Examples in context
- Ya casi es hora.It's almost time.This example shows how to use casi to talk about time.Tatoeba #1353008 by marcelostockle, translation #1140088 by CK
- Tom casi se rio.Tom almost laughed.This sentence demonstrates using casi with an action like laughing.Tatoeba #2625342 by Shishir, translation #2235950 by CK
- Casi cojo el pez.I almost caught the fish.This illustrates the use of casi when describing an almost-completed action.Tatoeba #1753845 by wallebot, translation #255778 by CK
- Casi llegamos tardeWe almost arrived late.
- Prácticamente terminé el proyectoI almost finished the project.
- Por poco caímosWe almost fell.
- A duras penas aprobé el examenI barely passed the exam.
- Casi todos los estudiantes aprobaron el examenAlmost all the students passed the exam.
- Casi todo el tiempoAlmost all the time
- Casi toda la comidaAlmost all the food
- Estuvo cerca de ganarHe/she was almost about to win
- Está cerca de ganarHe/she is almost about to win
- 667 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are talking about a book they are reading.
- MaríaYa casi termino el libro.I almost finished the book.
- AlejandroTe falta muy poco entonces.You have very little left then.
- MaríaSí, casi llego al final.Yes, I'm almost at the end.
- AlejandroDime qué pasa al final.Tell me what happens at the end.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “almost” translations and entries casi, por poco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries casi, poco, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
