pouco

Etymology

From Old Portuguese pouco, from Latin paucus, from Proto-Italic *paukus, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w- (“few”, “little”). Compare Spanish poco.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpo(w).ku/

Pronoun

pouco m (superlative pouquíssimo)

1. little of something

   Compramos muita comida, mas sobrou pouco.

   We bought a lot of food, but little was left.

2. a short while

   Saímos há pouco.

   We left not long ago.

   Sairemos daqui a pouco.

   We will leave in a short while.

Adjective

pouco m (feminine singular pouca, masculine plural poucos, feminine plural poucas, comparable)

1. little; few (not many)

   Poucas pessoas acreditam nisso.

   Few people believe it.

   Sobrou pouca comida e menos vinho.

   Little food was left and less wine.

Adverb

pouco (comparatives mais pouco, menos superlatives o mais pouco, pouquíssimo)

1. little (not much or not often)

   Ele lê pouco.

   He reads little.

2. for a short duration

   Minha alegria durou pouco.

   My happiness didn’t last long.

   A fila demorou pouco.

   The queue didn’t take long.