Kaum
Example: Ich habe kaum Zeit, um mich zu entspannen.
Definition
"Kaum" is an adverb used to indicate that something happens or exists to a very small degree or almost not at all, often translated as 'hardly' or 'scarcely'. For example, in the sentence "Ich habe kaum Zeit, um mich zu entspannen," it means having very little time to relax.
Etymology
The German word "kaum" traces back to Middle High German 'kūme' or 'kome,' meaning 'scarcely' or 'hardly.' It is related to Old High German 'chūmo,' with roots in Proto-Germanic. Did you know? The word has retained its meaning of minimal amount or degree for centuries, emphasizing how little of something is available or happening.
Learn to use this word actively
"Kaum" appears in the Vocaplus list "German - General - (B1) - set 1", containing 119 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select German as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
