A large, empty ceramic serving bowl rests on a wooden table. At the very bottom of the bowl, there are only three small red cherries, clearly showing a very small quantity.

poca

POH-kah

Adjective (Quantifier)fA1

little?small amount of (before a feminine singular noun),not much?quantifying a resource or time

Also:small quantity of?general use

📝 In Action

Tenemos muy poca gasolina para el viaje.

We have very little gas for the trip.

Hay poca gente en la tienda hoy.

There are few people in the store today.

Con tan poca suerte, decidimos volver a casa.

With so little luck, we decided to go back home.

Word Connections

Synonyms

escasa (scarce)

Antonyms

mucha (a lot of)
abundante (abundant)

Common Collocations

poca cosa – a trifle; a small thing
poca vergüenza – shamelessness; little shame

Idioms & Expressions

por poca cosa – for very little reason

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Since 'poca' describes a noun, it must match the noun's gender (feminine) and number (singular). Use 'poca' only for feminine singular words like 'agua' (water) or 'paciencia' (patience).

Placement is Key

Unlike many descriptive adjectives, 'poca' almost always goes before the noun it modifies. Example: 'poca información' (little information).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Mismatch

Mistake: "Using 'poca' with masculine words: 'poca dinero.'"

Correction: Use the masculine form 'poco': 'poco dinero.' Remember, 'poca' is strictly feminine.

Confusing Adjective vs. Adverb

Mistake: "Using 'poca' when you mean 'a little bit' in general: 'Estoy poca cansada.'"

Correction: For the general phrase 'a little bit,' use the masculine form 'un poco' (acting as an adverb): 'Estoy un poco cansada.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Adding Emphasis

To emphasize the smallness, add 'muy' (very): 'muy poca' means 'very little' or 'hardly any.' Example: 'Queda muy poca luz.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: poca

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'poca'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

poco(little (masculine)) - adjective/adverb

pocos(few (masculine plural)) - adjective

pocas(few (feminine plural)) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'poca' and 'un poco'?

'Poca' is an adjective that describes a feminine noun (e.g., 'poca paciencia' - little patience). 'Un poco' is a fixed phrase, often used as an adverb meaning 'a little bit' or 'slightly,' and it usually does not change form (e.g., 'Quiero estudiar un poco').

Can I use 'poca' without a noun?

Yes, 'poca' can act as a pronoun, replacing a feminine noun that was just mentioned. For example: '¿Cuánta comida queda? Queda poca.' (How much food is left? Little is left.)