How to Say "scarce" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “scarce” is “escaso” — use 'escaso' when referring to a limited supply or quantity of something, especially when it's a resource that is running out.
escaso
es-KAH-soesˈkaso
Examples
El agua es escasa en el desierto.
Water is scarce in the desert.
Tenemos recursos escasos para completar el proyecto.
We have limited resources to complete the project.
La visibilidad era escasa debido a la niebla.
Visibility was poor due to the fog.
Matching with Nouns
Like most adjectives in Spanish, this word must change to match the thing it describes. Use 'escaso' for masculine items and 'escasa' for feminine items.
Placement
When you put 'escaso' before the noun, it often adds a bit of emphasis or a more formal tone compared to putting it after.
Using 'escaso' vs 'poco'
Mistake: “No tengo escaso tiempo.”
Correction: Tengo poco tiempo or Mi tiempo es escaso. 'Escaso' is usually used to describe the quality of the supply, while 'poco' simply means 'not much'.
raro
RRA-rohˈra.ɾo
Examples
Es raro ver nevar en esta ciudad.
It's rare to see snow in this city.
Encontrar un diamante de este tamaño es extremadamente raro.
Finding a diamond of this size is extremely rare.
Rara vez salgo a cenar durante la semana.
I rarely go out to dinner during the week.
Placement is Key
Usually, 'raro' comes after the thing it describes, like in 'una flor rara' (a rare flower). However, in the very common phrase 'rara vez' (rarely), it comes first.
Strange vs. Infrequent
Mistake: “Mi profesor es raro. Solo da exámenes una vez al mes.”
Correction: This sentence could be confusing. Does it mean the professor is a weird person? Or that it's infrequent for him to give exams? For clarity, you could say: 'Es raro que mi profesor dé exámenes tan infrecuentemente' (It's strange that my professor gives exams so infrequently).
contado
kon-TAH-dohkonˈtaðo
Examples
Los recursos naturales del planeta son contados.
The planet's natural resources are scarce (limited).
Su tiempo en la empresa estaba contado.
His time at the company was numbered.
Figurative Use
This meaning uses the idea of 'counting' to imply that the total number is known, fixed, and small, suggesting scarcity or an approaching end.
Scarce vs. Rare
Related Translations
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