Apenas (apena) in Spanish translation: almost no, with difficulty, scarcely, small and approximate amount.
What does apena mean?
Apena is the word cut off from Apenas.
Apenas is translated in English as barely, hardly, just . this word is a negation adverb and is used in the following ways:
– Apenas means: almost no, with difficulty, scarcely, small and approximate amount, it is not noticeable or it does not happen. It is one of the negative phrases of the Spanish language.
For example:
We have barely been able to talk (almost not) – No hemos podido conversar apenas (casi no)
He is very young, he hardly knows how to read. (with difficulty) – Es muy chico, penas sabe leer. (con dificultad)
Only a few friends went to the activities (small and approximate amount) – Apenas algunos amigos fueron a la actividades (cantidad pequeña y aproximada)
You could hardly see the light from afar (not noticeable) -Apenas se veía la luz desde lejos (no se nota)
– Apenas is also used as an expression of quantity, or scarcity of time.
For example:
Just a day ago he came back from vacation. – Hace apenas un dia que volvió de vacaciones.
– Apenas can also mean: immediately that, immediately that, as soon as, as soon as.
For example:
As soon as he finished cooking, he began to eat. (as soon as) -Apenas que terminó de cocinar, se puso a comer. (tan pronto como)
As soon as I sang, I won the contest. (As soon as) – Apenas que canté, gané el concurso.(tan pronto como)
Other Ways to say apenas in Spanish
sólo, justo, tan sólo, solamente, recién – just
escasamente, seguramente no – scarcely
escasamente, difícilmente – barely
difícilmente, mal, duramente – hardly
duramente, difícilmente, mal – hardily
Sentences with the word apenas in Spanish
| Apenas me fijé en él cuando lo vi por primera vez. | – | I hardly noticed him when I first saw him. |
| He engordado mucho, por eso apenas me cabe la ropa. | – | I’ve put on a lot of weight, that’s why my clothes barely fit. |
| En la casa apenas me siento en la sala a ver el televisor. | – | At home I hardly sit in the living room to watch TV. |
| Ven más a menudo que apenas pude disfrutar de tu compañía la última vez. | – | Come more often than I could hardly enjoy your company last time. |
| Apenas hay un pueblo en esta zona en un radio de treinta kilómetros. | – | There is hardly a town in this area within a thirty kilometer radius. |
| La chica apenas viene a la ciudad a comprar suministros. | – | The girl hardly ever comes to town to buy supplies. |
| ¿Cómo quieres que visite tu casa si apenas te conozco? | – | How do you want me to visit your house if I barely know you? |
| Sé que apenas la escuchas porque ella me lo ha dicho. | – | I know you hardly listen to her because she told me. |
| Mi abuela apenas se paraba del sillón por los constantes dolores de cadera. | – | My grandmother barely got out of the chair because of her constant hip pain. |
| El muchacho no sabe qué es apenas un adolescente y se cree un hombre. | – | The boy doesn’t know that he is just a teenager and he thinks he is a man. |
| Los soldados apenas se separaban de la trinchera. | – | The soldiers hardly left the trench. |
| Va quedando apenas un poco de luz para ver las monedas en la hierba alta. | – | There is just a little light left to see the coins in the tall grass. |
| En el pueblo apenas hay hombres honestos y de buen corazón. | – | In the town there are hardly any honest and good-hearted men. |
| Se conocían apenas los dos amigos después de tantos años. | – | The two friends hardly knew each other after so many years. |
| Al principio apenas notas el sabor amargo en la boca. | – | At first you barely notice the bitter taste in your mouth. |
| De esto hacía apenas un año. | – | This was barely a year ago. |
| Había pegado un grito alto pero él apenas la oyó. | – | She had screamed loudly but he barely heard her. |
| Apenas oyó lo que le decía al oído mientras su alma se despedía del cuerpo. | – | He barely heard what he whispered in her ear as his soul said goodbye to his body. |
| Su voz era apenas audible ante el ruido de la multitud. | – | His voice was barely audible over the noise of the crowd. |
| Teresa apenas notó el golpe del mango que cayó en su espalda. | – | Teresa hardly noticed the blow of the mango that fell on her back. |
| Apenas se encontraba con el dinero suficiente para comprarse el auto nuevo. | – | She barely had enough money to buy a new car. |
| En el almuerzo, apenas comió un bocado. | – | At lunch, she barely ate a bite. |
| Tras la abrupta caída apenas podía mantenerse en pie. | – | After the abrupt fall she could barely stand. |
| La comida estaba apenas tibia cuando llegó la visita. | – | The food was barely warm when the visitor arrived. |
| Comieron sin apenas decir nada. | – | They ate without saying anything. |
| Apenas se le distinguía bien al llevar puesto un pañuelo y lentes. | – | She was barely distinguishable when she was wearing a scarf and glasses. |
| A los camaleones apenas se les escapaban las moscas que sobrevolaban el basurero. | – | The chameleons barely missed the flies that hovered over the dump. |
| Los labios ojos se movieron en el momento del duelo. | – | Her lips and eyes moved at the moment of duel. |
| Pude haber hecho algo mejor, apenas fue un momento glorioso. | – | I could have done better, it was just a glorious moment. |
| Una noche es apenas suficiente para disfrutar de tu compañía. | – | One night is barely enough to enjoy your company. |
