How to Say "Peu" in French - How To Say Guide

peu

/pø/

The French phrase peu means little or few.

peu is used to express a small amount or a lack of something. It can be translated into English as 'few,' 'a little,' 'not much,' or 'not very.'

Which one should you use?

While peu expresses a small amount or a lack of something, the phrase un peu means 'a little bit' and implies a small positive amount.

When used as an adverb of quantity before a noun, peu must be followed by de (for example, peu de temps for 'little time').

/pø/

When French speakers want to say 'a little bit' in a very casual or colloquial way, they often use the expression un petit peu, effectively using two words for 'little' side by side.
The French language uses peu to create various intensifiers, such as peu importe, which translates to 'it does not matter'.
French distinguishes between peu and petit. While peu refers to an uncountable quantity or degree, petit refers to physical size or age.

Il y avait peu d'étudiants dans la salle de classe.
There were few students in the classroom.
Il faut travailler un peu plus dur pour réussir.
You need to work a little harder to succeed.
Il est quelque peu agité avant son examen oral.
He is a little nervous before his oral exam.
Mes amis parlent assez peu de leur famille.
My friends talk very little about their family.
J'ai pas beaucoup dormi la nuit dernière.
I didn't sleep much last night.
Il y a peu de vent aujourd'hui.
There is little wind today.
Elle a peu de patience avec les enfants.
She has little patience with children.
J'ai peu d'argent sur moi.
I have little money on me.

Nathan and Chloé are walking in a park.

Sources

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