solo un poco
/solo un poko/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "just a little" is solo un poco.
This phrase is used to indicate a small amount or a short duration. While un poco means "a little," adding solo emphasizes the smallness of the amount, mirroring the English distinction between "a little" and "just a little."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of solo (only/just), un (a) and poco (little/bit).
Which one should you use?
To express "just a little" in a more informal or diminutive way, you might use solo un poquito, which is common to sound more polite or to emphasize that the amount is very small. Other informal variations include un poquitín or nada más un poco.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use solo un poco to modify a noun, you must add the preposition de before that noun.
Did you know?
- The word poco is a distant relative of the English word 'few'. Both words share a common ancestor in the Proto-Indo-European root *peh2w-.
- In Spanish, the phrase un poco can be used as a conversational filler or to hedge an opinion, similar to how an English speaker might say 'kind of' or 'sort of'.
- Depending on the region, un poquitín is often used to describe an amount so small it is almost non-existent, functioning as a hyper-diminutive.
Examples in context
- ¿Estás seguro de que no es solo un poco tímido?Are you certain he's not just a little shy?This sentence is useful for seeing how solo un poco can be used to modify an adjective like "shy".Tatoeba #10616232 by DJ_Saidez, translation #3165744 by Hybrid
- Me gustaría un poquito de azúcar, por favor.I would like just a little sugar, please.
- Necesito solamente un poco de ayuda para terminar este proyecto.I need just a little help to finish this project.
- ¿Podrías prestarme un poquitín de dinero? Te lo devolveré mañana.Could you lend me just a little money? I'll pay you back tomorrow.
- Quiero nada más un poco de tiempo libre para descansar.I just want a little bit of free time to relax.
- Solo un poco de sal, por favor.Just a little salt, please.
- Solo un poco de tiempo más.Just a little more time.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking about their hunger before dinner.
- LucíaMateo, ¿tienes hambre ahora?Mateo, are you hungry now?
- MateoSí, pero solo un poco.Yes, but just a little.
- Lucía¿Quieres un bocadillo pequeño?Do you want a small snack?
- MateoEso sería perfecto, gracias.That would be perfect, thanks.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries poco, solo, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
