à peine
See also: apeine
French
Etymology
Inherited from Vulgar Latin *ad poenam. Compare Italian appena, etc.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a pɛn/
Audio (file)
Adverb
- barely, scarcely, hardly
- Il y a à peine trente personnes au concert ce soir. ― There are barely thirty people at this evening’s concert.
- À peine avait-il achevé ces paroles qu’une voiture s’arrêta devant la porte. ― Scarcely had he finished his words, when a car pulled up at the door.
- Nous avons à peine fait connaissance. ― We've only just met.
Usage notes
- Not to be confused with à grand-peine.
See also
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