à peine

== French == === Etymology === Inherited from Vulgar Latin *ad poenam. Compare Italian appena, etc. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /a pɛn/ === Adverb === à peine 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 === guère