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"A few" is a phrase which is often translated as "algunos", and "few" is a pronoun which is often translated as "pocos". Learn more about the difference between "a few" and "few" below.
a few(
uh
fyu
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. algunos
Many sleeping pills stop working after a few hours.Muchas pastillas para dormir dejan de funcionar después de algunas horas.
b. unos
Do you have a few minutes after class to chat?¿Tienes unos minutos después de la clase para hablar?
d. unos cuantos
Are there many tomatoes left? - No, there are just a few.¿Quedan muchos tomates? - No, solo hay unos cuantos.
few(
fyu
)A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
1. (not many)
a. pocos
Very few of her friends attended her bridal shower.Muy pocas de sus amigas asistieron a su despedida de novia.
Very few were brave enough to touch the lion.Muy pocos fueron lo suficientemente valientes como para tocar el león.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
2. (some)
a. unos cuantos
If you are looking for a pen, there are a few in my desk.Si andas buscando un bolígrafo, hay unos cuantos en mi escritorio.
a. los pocos (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
My dad always complains about how 99% of the world's money goes to the rich few.Mi papá siempre se queja de que 99% de la plata del mundo va a los pocos ricos.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
4. (not many)