puțin

Probably from a Vulgar Latin *putinus (attested in Medieval Latin pusinnu, pittinus (“small”)), a blend of Late Latin pitinnus (“very small”) and the root of Classical Latin putus (“young boy”), putillus (“very small”).[1] Compare Aromanian putsãn; further Albanian picërr, Old Logudorese pithinnu, Tarantino piččinnu.[1]

An alternative, perhaps less likely, theory derives it from a Vulgar Latin root *paucinus, from Latin paucus (“few, little”)[2].

• IPA^(key): [puˈt͡sin]

puțin m or n (feminine singular puțină, masculine plural puțini, feminine and neuter plural puține)

(determiner)

1. a little, few, little
2. some
3. small (in quantity), little, reduced, meager

puțin

1. a little, few, a small amount

   Amicii mei înțeleg numai puțin românește.

   My friends understand only a little Romanian.

• mult

• cel puțin

• nițel
• pic