Express a very small amount or an immediate sequence.
The idea
Apenas can mean hardly; before a completed event it can also mean as soon as.
Examples
- Apenas queda agua en la jarra.There is barely any water left in the jug.
- Apenas oigo la música desde aquí.I can barely hear the music from here.
- El bebé apenas durmió anoche.The baby hardly slept last night.
- Apenas llegamos, empezó la lluvia.As soon as we arrived, the rain began.
- Apenas abrió la tienda, entraron clientes.As soon as the shop opened, customers came in.
- En invierno apenas vemos el sol.In winter we hardly see the sun.
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Watch out
Do not confuse hardly with almost: the action occurs only to a small extent.
Try it yourself
Complete with the adverb: En la caja hay muy pocas monedas: ___ quedan monedas.
Show answer or example answer
apenas
Apenas: very few coins remain.
Complete with the adverb: ___ terminó la reunión, sonó el teléfono.
Show answer or example answer
apenas
Apenas: the phone rang immediately after the meeting ended.
Complete with the adverb: Con este ruido ___ escuchamos al guía.
Show answer or example answer
apenas
Apenas: the noise makes hearing difficult.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Spanish sentences where available. We keep your score.
Complete with the adverb: En la caja hay muy pocas monedas: ___ quedan monedas.
Complete with the adverb: ___ terminó la reunión, sonó el teléfono.
Complete with the adverb: Con este ruido ___ escuchamos al guía.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe something you can barely hear and an event immediately followed by another.