What is the Spanish word for "scarcely"?

Learn how to say "scarcely" in Spanish with examples and practice

English

scarcely

Spanish

apenas

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Alternative translations of "scarcely"

escasamente
difícilmente
casi no
con dificultad

Examples of how to use "scarcely" in Spanish

English
I could scarcely believe what I was hearing.
Spanish
Casi no podía creer lo que estaba escuchando.
English
She could scarcely hear the soft music.
Spanish
Ella apenas podía oír la música suave.
English
I had scarcely any time to eat.
Spanish
Casi no tuve tiempo para comer.
English
They scarcely recognized the old building.
Spanish
Apenas reconocieron el edificio antiguo.
English
He scarcely smiled during the meeting today.
Spanish
Él apenas sonrió durante la reunión de hoy.

Learning tip: Pay attention to how the word "scarcely" is used in different contexts. This will help you understand when and how to use its Spanish translation naturally.

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I could scarcely believe what I was hearing.

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What is the Spanish word for "scarcely"? | Habladoo