Barely in French 🇫🇷

à peine info.

Tips to remember the French word “à peine”:
1. The French word “à peine” is pronounced as “ah pen”.
2. Break it down: “à” means “at” or “to” and “peine” means “pain” or “hardship”. So “à peine” literally translates to “at pain”.
3. Create associations: Imagine someone experiencing pain, struggling, or barely able to do something.
4. Practice using it in context: By incorporating “à peine” into sentences, you reinforce its meaning and usage.

Explanations:
“À peine” is a common French expression that means “barely” or “hardly”. It is used to indicate that something is only just happening or that an action is done with great difficulty or almost not at all.

Other words that mean the same thing:
1. Presque pas – almost not
2. Quasiment pas – virtually not
3. À la limite – at the limit
4. Tout juste – just enough
5. À grand peine – with great difficulty

Alternate meanings like slang:
In French slang, “à peine” can also be used to express disbelief or surprise. For example, if someone tells you an incredible story, you might respond with “À peine !” meaning “No way!” or “You’re kidding!”

Examples of sentences:
1. Je me suis levé si tard que j’ai à peine eu le temps de déjeuner. (I woke up so late that I barely had time to have breakfast.)
2. Ils ont à peine commencé à rénover la maison. (They have hardly started renovating the house.)
3. Le bébé a à peine mangé quelques cuillères de soupe. (The baby barely ate a few spoonfuls of soup.)

Note: Remember to always consider the context in which “à peine” is used, as it can slightly vary the interpretation of the sentence.

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