How do you say very little in Spanish?

The phrase muy poco translates directly to very little when referring to quantity, and it can modify both nouns and verbs.

When should I use poquísimo instead of muy poco?

Poquísimo is the superlative form of poco and carries stronger emphasis, making it ideal when you want to stress just how small the amount is.

Does poco change form based on gender?

When poco functions as an adjective before a noun, it agrees in gender and number: poco (m. sing.), poca (f. sing.), pocos (m. pl.), pocas (f. pl.).

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Very Little in Spanish: Muy Poco

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Muy poco · phrase · mooy POH-koh

Very little in Spanish is muy poco, a phrase combining the intensifier muy with the quantifier poco to indicate a very small amount.

Muy poco is mooy POH-koh, with the stress on the first syllable of poco.

Queda muy poco tiempo para terminar el examen.

There's very little time left to finish the exam.

Very Little in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for very little, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
muy poco	very little	mooy POH-koh	Default, widely understood
poquísimo	very little		intensified diminutive

How Native Speakers Use Muy poco

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Expressing scarcity

Tenemos muy poco dinero este mes.

We have very little money this month.

Describing a limited quantity.

Speaking ability

Hablo muy poco español todavía.

I speak very little Spanish still.

Common phrase for language learners.

Using poquísimo

Me queda poquísima batería en el teléfono.

I have very little battery left on my phone.

Poquísimo/a is an emphatic superlative alternative.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Muy poco

Gender agreement with poquísimo

Incorrect: Hay poquísimo agua.

Correct: Hay poquísima agua.

Agua is feminine (despite using el), so poquísima agrees in gender.

Confusing poco with pequeño

Incorrect: La casa es muy poca.

Correct: La casa es muy pequeña.

Poco means little in quantity, while pequeño means small in size.

Lock in Very Little Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Muy poco used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using muy poco in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Queda muy poco tiempo para terminar el examen. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Very Little in Spanish

How do you say very little in Spanish?: The phrase muy poco translates directly to very little when referring to quantity, and it can modify both nouns and verbs.
When should I use poquísimo instead of muy poco?: Poquísimo is the superlative form of poco and carries stronger emphasis, making it ideal when you want to stress just how small the amount is.
Does poco change form based on gender?: When poco functions as an adjective before a noun, it agrees in gender and number: poco (m. sing.), poca (f. sing.), pocos (m. pl.), pocas (f. pl.).