a few
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Determiner
- A small number of
[edit] Translations
A small number of
[edit] Noun
a few
- A small number of things
- Regrets, I've had a few, but there again too few to mention.
[edit] Translations
- Czech: několik cs(cs)
- German: einige de(de)
- Finnish: muutama fi(fi), jokunen fi(fi)
- Hindi: कुछ hi(hi) (kućh)
- Italian: pochi, un pò di
- Telugu: కొన్ని te(te) (things), కొందరు te(te) (kondaru) (people)
- Spanish: poco es(es)
- Urdu: کُچھ ur(ur) (kućh)
[edit] Usage notes
"A few" and "few" without "a" differ in emphasis. "Few" emphasizes that the number is not as large as expected, while "a few" emphasizes the fact that the number, while small, is not zero.
Compare:
- I was expecting lots of people at the party, but few turned up.
- I wasn't expecting any young people at the party, but a few turned up.
