escaso
“escaso” means “scarce” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
scarce, limited
Also: meager, insufficient
📝 In Action
El agua es escasa en el desierto.
A2Water is scarce in the desert.
Tenemos recursos escasos para completar el proyecto.
B1We have limited resources to complete the project.
La visibilidad era escasa debido a la niebla.
B2Visibility was poor due to the fog.
barely, just short of
Also: scant
📝 In Action
Llegaron hace unos escasos minutos.
B1They arrived just a few minutes ago.
El corredor ganó por una escasa diferencia.
B2The runner won by a tiny margin.
Tiene unos escasos ahorros.
C1He has very meager savings.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: escaso
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct when describing a lack of rain?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'excarpsus', which is the past participle of 'excarpere', meaning 'to pick out' or 'to pluck'. It literally describes something that has been picked over so much that there is very little left.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'escaso' be used for people?
Rarely. If you call a person 'escaso', you might be implying they are 'dim-witted' or 'lacking intelligence' (escaso de luces), which is quite rude.
What is the difference between 'escasez' and 'escaso'?
'Escaso' is the adjective (scarce), while 'escasez' is the noun (shortage/scarcity). You have an 'escasez de agua' because the 'agua es escasa'.
Is 'escaso' more formal than 'poco'?
Yes. While 'poco' is used in everyday conversation to mean 'not much', 'escaso' is often used in writing, news, or formal situations to emphasize a deficiency.