How do you say words like “a little bit” and “some” in Spanish?
In previous articles, we’ve talked about “big” words like muy bien and mucho, but now it’s time to focus on the smaller stuff.
In the following guide, we’ll look at some of these “little bit” translations, showing you how to say expressions like:
- I am going to be a bit late
- I only speak a little Spanish
- I’m a little scared
- I want just a little bit
- I need a little more time
- I would like a little bit of that
And more.
How to Say “A Little Bit” in Spanish
“A bit” in Spanish is un poco. “A little bit” is un pocuito.
The ito suffix means “little” and is a very useful word to know. In this case, it turns that “bit” into a “little bit”, but it can also turn a dog into a little dog, a book into a little book, and so on.
We don’t do this in English (though it’s also very common in Greek and other languages). You can think of it like adding a “y” or “ie” to make a word “cuter”, such as “doggy”, but this doesn’t really work across the board.
“Some” Versus “A Little Bit” in Spanish
If you’re translating phrases from English to Spanish, you may see the word “some” translated into un poco, or some variation thereof. As in English, these words are very similar and somewhat interchangeable, but not quite.
The word for “some” in Spanish is alguna/alguno, as in the following phrases:
- algunas personas = some people
- algunos platos = some plates
- algunas sillas = some chairs
- algunos gatos = some cats
- algunos perros = some dogs
It’s used much like the English “some” and references something that can be counted, such as people, plates, cats, dogs, numbers, etc.,
If the thing you’re referencing cannot be counted, you use un poco.
So, you can be a little bit nervous (estoy un poco nervioso) and you can have some plates (algunos platos), but you can’t really be “some nervous”. You can have pocos platos or “little bit plates”, but this actually translates as something like “few plates”.
Examples of “A Little Bit” in Spanish
Read, review, and repeat the following phrases to ensure this important little phrase sticks in your memory:
- Distráete un poquito = Have a little fun
- Necesito un poco más de tiempo = I need a little more time
- Estoy un poco asustado = I’m a little scared
- Préstame un poco de dinero = Lend me a little money, please.
- Él trabaja un poco demasiado = He works a little too much
- Quiero un poco no mucho = I want a little not a lot
- ¿Puedo tener un poco de queso, por favor? = Can I have a little bit of cheese, please?
- Hablo muy poco español, sin embargo, intentaré hablar = I speak very little Spanish, nevertheless, I will try to talk
- Me gustaria un poco de eso = I would like a little bit of that
- Solo entiendo un poco de lo que dices = I only understand a little bit of what you’re saying
Remember, Spanish is a very phonetic language, so most words are pronounced how they look.
How to Say “I Only Speak A Little Bit of Spanish”
Knowing how to tell someone you only speak a “little” is one of the most important things you can learn when studying a new language.
If someone asks ¿Hablas español? (“Do you speak Spanish?”), you can answer solo un poco or “just a little”.
You can also say hablo un poco de español, which means “I speak a little Spanish” or ¿Puedes hablar un poco más lento, por favor?, which is “Can you speak a little slower, please?”
How Saying “A Little Bit” Can Help When You Learn Spanish
Everyone goes through the same process when learning a new language.
At first, it seems easy. You repeat a few key phrases, learn how to read, and start thinking that this language business isn’t as hard as you thought it was.
After a few months, you know some basic phrases and feel pretty confident.
Then you chat with a native speaker and that confidence goes out of the window.
They talk quickly. They use words that you don’t know. And more importantly, they’re not always ordering coffee, telling you their name, and asking for directions like Pimsleur promised they would.
If they only speak Spanish, it’s even worse. Someone who speaks a second language will understand what it’s like to learn. They’ll know that speaking slower, repeating themselves, and using simpler words will help you. But if they don’t speak a second language, they’ll just repeat themselves using the exact words and speed as before.
Phrases like “I only speak a little bit of Spanish” or even “I only understand a little bit of what you’re saying” can help. They let the speaker know that while you understand, your comprehension is limited and they need to make allowances.
Check out our other English/Spanish articles for more top tips and helpful phrases.
Etymology Check
The word poco entered the Spanish language via the Latin paucus, which also referenced “a few” or “a little”. Similar words exist in most other romance languages, as these are also related to Latin.
Paucus comes from the Proto-Indo-European root wood pau, which exists in countless other Spanish and English words:
- Paraffin = From “little” and “related”, a meaning that references its low reactivity.
- Pauper = A related word taken from the Latin meaning “poor”. It also gives us words like “poverty” and “impoverished”.
- Few = Taken from the Old English fēawe, which itself comes from the Old High German fao, taken from the same root as paucus.
- Paul = A common name that comes from the Latin family name Paulus, itself derived from an adjective meaning “small” as in “humble”.
- Pony: A diminutive word that likely derived from a word meaning “small/young animal”.
As for the word alguno, it comes from the Latin alicūnus meaning “some” or “someone”. It’s a little less interesting but good to know, nonetheless!