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poquito

po-KEE-toh/poˈkito/

“poquito” means “a little bit” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

a little bit, slightly

Also: briefly
A small child gently pushing a large wooden block forward only a few millimeters, illustrating a minimal action.

📝 In Action

¿Puedes esperar un poquito?

A1

Can you wait a little bit?

Estoy un poquito cansado después del viaje.

A2

I'm slightly tired after the trip.

Ella habla español un poquito mejor ahora.

A2

She speaks Spanish a little bit better now.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un poquito más – a little bit more
  • solo un poquito – just a tiny bit

a small amount, a tiny bit

Also: a dash
NounmA2informal
A large, clear glass bowl sitting on a table, holding only a very small puddle of vibrant blue liquid at the bottom.

📝 In Action

Échale solo un poquito de sal.

A2

Just add a tiny bit of salt to it.

Con un poquito de esfuerzo lo lograrás.

B1

With a little bit of effort, you will achieve it.

No tengo mucho, solo un poquito.

A2

I don't have much, just a small amount.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • Poco a poquito – Slowly but surely; little by little.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "poquito" in Spanish:

a dash→briefly→slightly→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: poquito

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'poquito' to refer to a small, specific quantity of a feminine item?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
poco(little, few) — Adverb / Adjective
poquita(a small amount (feminine)) — Noun / Adjective
poquitos(a few (masculine plural)) — Noun / Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'poquito' is the diminutive form of 'poco,' which comes from the Latin word *paucus*, meaning 'few' or 'little.' The addition of the common Spanish suffix '-ito' makes the quantity smaller and adds a feeling of warmth or affection.

First recorded: Medieval Spanish

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: pouquitoItalian: pochino

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'poco' and 'poquito'?

They both mean 'little' or 'few,' but 'poquito' is the diminutive form. 'Poquito' emphasizes that the amount is very small, and often carries a warmer or more affectionate tone. If you say 'Tengo poco dinero' (I have little money), it sounds factual or negative. If you say 'Tengo un poquito de dinero,' it sounds softer.

Can 'poquito' be used to talk about time?

Yes! When talking about time, 'poquito' means 'a short time' or 'briefly.' For example, 'Estuvimos allí un poquito' means 'We were there for a short time.'