poco común
/poko komun/from spelling rules
The English word uncommon is translated into Spanish as poco común. Wiktionary also lists nada común and extraño.
Meaning: rare, not readily found, unusual (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| poco común | /poko komun/ (from spelling rules) |
| nada común | /nada komun/ (from spelling rules) |
| extraño | /e(ɡ)sˈtɾaɲo/ |
| insólito | /inˈsolito/ |
| incomún | /inkomun/ (from spelling rules) |
The phrase is used to describe things that are rare, not readily found or unusual. While poco común and incomún describe frequency, the term insólito is reserved for things that are strikingly unusual or surprising and inusual carries a sense of being out of the ordinary or infrequent.
Which one should you use?
Poco común refers to how often something occurs, whereas extraño often implies that something is strange or weird in nature. While incomún is a direct one-word synonym for poco común, the latter is more frequently used in everyday speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective raro is masculine, while the feminine form is rara.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word for 'nothing', nada, actually comes from a phrase meaning 'not a born thing'.
Examples in context
- A veces decimos: "El sentido común es muy poco común".We sometimes say: "Common sense is quite uncommon."This sentence shows how to use poco común to describe common sense.Tatoeba #1342441 by hayastan, translation #407001 by Scott
- La única región que queda en el mundo donde la obesidad es poco común es el África subsahariana.The only remaining region in the world where obesity is uncommon is sub-Saharan Africa.This sentence uses poco común to describe the frequency of obesity in a specific region.Tatoeba #9991214 by manufrutos, translation #421478 by Scott
- El fenómeno natural fue realmente raroThe natural phenomenon was truly uncommon
- El hábito de ese animal es inusualThe habit of that animal is uncommon
- ¡Vaya, qué cosa más rara!Wow, that's really uncommon!
- Esa película es bastante poco comúnThat movie is quite uncommon
- Es realmente raro ver un animal tan exótico en esta zona.It's really uncommon to see such an exotic animal in this area.
- Esa película tiene un argumento poco común.That movie has an uncommon plot.
- Me encontré con algo inusual en mi camino al trabajo.I came across something unusual on my way to work.
- Es un color poco común para esta época.It is a rare color for this time of year.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are looking at a unique piece of jewelry in a shop.
- LucíaMira este anillo, es un diseño poco común.Look at this ring, it is an uncommon design.
- MateoTienes razón, Lucía, es muy especial.You are right, Lucía, it is very special.
- Lucía¿Crees que sea muy caro?Do you think it is very expensive?
- MateoNo lo sé, pero es muy bonito.I don't know, but it is very pretty.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “uncommon” translations and entries extraño, insólito, incomún, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries común, extraño, insólito, nada, poco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
