scarso

scarce

adjective SKAHR-soh Less Common

Origin: from Vulgar Latin excarpsus

Also means

poor

Usage Note

Scarso means in short supply (acqua scarsa) but colloquially also 'no good' at something: è scarso in matematica (he's weak at maths). After a number it means 'barely', so un chilo scarso is 'just under a kilo'.

Examples

"Quest'anno il raccolto è scarso."

Natural Translation

This year the harvest is poor.

Literal Translation

This-year the harvest is scarce.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Diminutives: -ino, -etto, -one Explained

Italian diminutives like -ino, -etto, and -one signal size, affection, or contempt. Learn to read the feeling, dodge gender flips, and spot false diminutives.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Ti Amo vs Ti Voglio Bene: I Love You in Italian

Ti amo is romantic love; ti voglio bene is tender affection for family and close friends. Here's exactly who to say each phrase to in Italian.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Dialects vs Standard Italian: A Guide

Standard Italian works everywhere, so relax: this three-layer guide to Italian dialects vs standard Italian shows what to ignore and what to notice.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Numbers 1 to 100: Count Like a Local

Learn Italian numbers 1 to 100 by mastering 0-20, the tens, and 3 spelling rules so you can generate any number from ventuno to novantanove on demand.

June 5, 2026 5 min read