few

An adjective meaning a small number of things or people.

ruПрилагательное, означающее небольшое количество предметов или людей.esAdjetivo que indica una cantidad pequeña o limitada de objetos o personas, o que son escasos en número.frAdjectif indiquant une petite quantité de choses ou de personnes. S'emploie aussi pour signifier 'peu nombreux' ou 'en petit nombre'.deAdjektiv, das eine kleine Anzahl von Personen oder Dingen bezeichnet; auch gebraucht im Sinne von 'nicht viele' oder 'selten vorhanden'.ptAdjetivo que indica um número pequeno de coisas ou pessoas, geralmente com sentido de escassez ou de contraste com muitos. Também pode significar poucos, alguns ou um pequeno número.zh形容词，表示数量很少的、不多的，用于修饰可数名词；也可表示几乎没有。arصفة تدل على العدد القليل من الأشياء أو الأشخاص، وتُستعمل للدلالة على قلة العدد أو ندرة الشيء.

1. Small number A1 formal

   Used to describe a small number of things or people.

   • Only a few people attended the meeting.
   • She has a few books on her shelf.
   • There are a few apples left in the basket.

   ruНесколькоespocosfrPetit nombredeWenigeptPoucoszh几个arقليل

   المرادفات: handfulminoritysprinklingtrickle

   الأضداد: manymultitudinousnumerous

2. Not many A2 formal

   Used to emphasize that the number is small or insufficient.

   • Few students passed the difficult exam.
   • He has few friends in the new city.
   • There are few opportunities for advancement in this company.

   ruНесколькоespocosfrpeu nombreuxdeWenigeptPoucoszh很少arقليل

   المرادفات: insufficientlimitedmeagerscarcesparse

   الأضداد: countlessmanymultiplenumerous

• fewer comparative form
• fewest superlative form

A determiner used with plural countable nouns to indicate a small number. Without the article 'a', it has a negative connotation, meaning 'not many' or 'hardly any'.

ruУказывает на малое количество исчисляемых предметов, часто с оттенком недостаточностиesIndica una cantidad pequeña de cosas contables, a menudo con un matiz de insuficiencia o escasez.frDéterminant indiquant un petit nombre d'objets comptables, souvent avec une nuance d'insuffisance ou de rareté.deBezeichnet eine geringe Anzahl zählbarer Dinge; oft mit dem Beiklang, dass es zu wenig oder kaum genug ist.ptIndica uma quantidade pequena de itens contáveis, frequentemente com uma conotação de insuficiência ou escassez. Contrasta com 'a few', que tem sentido positivo de alguns.zh表示数量很少的可数事物，常带有不够、不足的意味。arكلمة تدل على قلة عدد الأشياء القابلة للعد، وغالبًا ما تحمل دلالة النقص أو عدم الكفاية.

1. Small number (negative connotation) B1 formal

   Used with plural countable nouns to emphasize that the number is small, often implying 'not enough' or 'less than expected'. It contrasts with 'a few', which is more positive.

   • Few people understand this theory.
   • There are few reasons to stay.
   • Few of them passed the exam.

   ruМалое число (негативный оттенок)espocos (connotación negativa)frpeu (de)deGeringe Anzahl (negativ)ptPoucos (conotação negativa)zh数量少（贬义）arقِلَّة العدد (دلالة سلبية)

2. Only a small number (restrictive) B2 formal

   Used in the phrase 'only a few' or simply 'few' to restrict the quantity to a very limited number, emphasizing scarcity.

   • Very few students completed the assignment on time.
   • Few cities have such a rich history.
   • He has few friends in this town.

   ruТолько малое число (ограничительное)espocos (restringido)frpeu (nombre restreint)deNur eine kleine Zahl (restriktiv)ptApenas um pequeno número (restritivo)zh数量很少（限定性）arعدد قليل فقط (تقييدي)

غير معدود

A noun referring to a small number of something, often indicating not many or a scarcity of items.

ruСуществительное, обозначающее небольшое количество чего-либо, часто указывающее на немногочисленность или недостаток предметов.esSustantivo que denota una cantidad pequeña de algo, a menudo indicando escasez o insuficiencia de objetos.frNom désignant une petite quantité de quelque chose, souvent en soulignant le caractère peu nombreux ou insuffisant des objets.deSubstantiv, das eine kleine Anzahl oder Menge von etwas bezeichnet und oft auf Wenigkeit oder Mangel hinweist.ptSubstantivo que indica uma pequena quantidade de algo, frequentemente sugerindo escassez ou número reduzido de itens ou pessoas.zh表示数量少的词，常指为数不多或数量不足，也可指少量、几乎没有。arاسم يدل على عدد قليل أو كمية ضئيلة من شيء ما، وغالبًا ما يشير إلى القلة أو النقص في العدد أو الكمية.

1. A small number of people or things A1 formal

   A small number of people or things, often implying not many.

   • Only a few of the students passed the exam.
   • A few of the books were damaged in the flood.
   • She invited a few of her closest friends to the party.

   ruНебольшое количество людей или предметовespocosfrun petit nombredeEine kleine Anzahl von Personen oder DingenptPequeno número de pessoas ou coisaszh少数人或物arعدد قليل من الأشخاص أو الأشياء

   المرادفات: handfulminorityscatteringsmatteringsprinklingtrickle

   الأضداد: crowdhostmanymultitudethrong

2. A select or elite group B2 formal

   A small, select group of people, often implying exclusivity.

   • The few who understand the theory are highly respected.
   • Only the few were allowed into the private club.
   • The secrets are known by the few.

   ruНемногие, избранныеeslos pocosfrUne élitededie wenigen AuserwähltenptPoucos, os selecionadoszh少数精英arالصفوة، النخبة

   المرادفات: chosenelecteliteprivilegedselect

   الأضداد: crowdmanymass

• few plural form
• few's possessive plural form
• few's possessive singular form