barely

apenas

Indica que algo se logra hacer con mucha dificultad.

En inglés sencillo: Only just able to do something, because it is very difficult.

• I can barely hear you.
• He could barely stand after the race.
• We barely managed to lift the box.

Sinónimos: hardly

Expresiones frecuentes: barely able to, barely manage something, can barely walk

apenas

En un grado tan pequeño que casi no se nota o casi no puede considerarse cierto.

En inglés sencillo: To such a small degree that something is almost not true or noticeable.

• The mark is barely visible.
• Her expression barely changed.
• The music was barely audible from outside.

Sinónimos: hardly, scarcely

Expresiones frecuentes: barely visible, barely noticeable, barely touch something

apenas

Ante una cantidad, indica que es muy pequeña o menor de lo esperado.

En inglés sencillo: Used before an amount to show that it is very small or less than expected.

• We have barely enough money.
• Barely ten people came to the meeting.
• She ate barely half her lunch.

Sinónimos: scarcely, only

Expresiones frecuentes: barely enough, barely half, barely ten minutes

por poco, apenas

Con una diferencia mínima, casi sin margen para fallar o para que el resultado sea distinto.

En inglés sencillo: By only a small amount, with almost no room for failure or difference.

• I barely passed the test.
• Our team barely won the final.
• They barely escaped before the roof fell.

Sinónimos: narrowly, only just

Expresiones frecuentes: barely pass, barely win, barely escape

apenas

Indica que una cosa acaba de ocurrir cuando sucede otra.

En inglés sencillo: Used when one thing has only just happened before another thing happens.

• The film had barely started when she left.
• I had barely sat down when the phone rang.
• He had barely finished before another task arrived.

Cómo se usa: had barely done something when… (We had barely arrived when it started raining.)

Sinónimos: only just, scarcely

Expresiones frecuentes: barely begun, barely arrived, had barely finished

apenas, recién

Indica que algo ocurrió hace muy poco tiempo.

En inglés sencillo: Only a very short time ago.

• I barely got here a minute ago.
• She barely called me, so the news is fresh.
• We barely finished lunch, and I am still full.

Sinónimos: just, recently

Expresiones frecuentes: barely got here, barely finished something