What does few mean?
Few is one of English's most quietly powerful words, describing a small number of countable things while carrying a strong evaluative charge. Used on its own, it stresses scarcity and often disappointment: 'Few attended' implies the turnout was poor. Prefixed by 'a,' it shifts toward the positive or merely factual: 'a few attended' simply notes some level of presence. This subtle contrast makes 'few' a favorite tool of careful writers. It also functions as a pronoun ('few survive') and appears in fixed expressions such as 'the chosen few,' 'few and far between,' and 'no fewer than.' Descended from Old English 'fēa,' it shares a distant ancestry with Latin 'paucus,' the source of 'paucity' and 'pauper.' Its comparative 'fewer' remains a touchstone of prescriptive grammar, conventionally reserved for countable nouns. Simple, ancient, and rhetorically versatile, 'few' proves that small words can do heavy lifting.
Used before a plural countable noun to indicate a small number of people or things; without 'a,' it emphasizes that the number is smaller than expected or desirable.
"Few cities have managed to preserve their historic centers so well."
'Few' (bare) stresses insufficiency; 'a few' stresses existence of some. Compare 'He has few friends' (sadly not many) with 'He has a few friends' (he has some).
A small number of people or things, treated as a group.
"Many were called, but few were chosen."
The few: a small minority of people, especially as distinct from the majority.
"The decision benefits the fortunate few at the expense of everyone else."
'Few' and Latin 'paucus' both trace back to the same ancient root — which is why a shortage of something can be described as a 'paucity.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of few
Few comes from the Old English 'fēa' (meaning little or few), which derives from a Proto-Germanic root '*fawaz.' Remarkably, this Germanic root and the Latin 'paucus' are widely believed to descend from the same ancient Indo-European source, making 'few' a true cousin of 'paucity' and 'pauper.' The word has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning across more than a thousand years of English.
Related word forms
How few is actually used
The distinction between 'few' and 'a few' matters in register and tone: bare 'few' emphasizes scarcity ('Few agreed'), while 'a few' is neutral to positive ('A few agreed'). In formal writing, this contrast carries real weight. 'Quite a few,' despite sounding modest, actually means 'a fairly large number.' The comparative 'fewer' should be used with countable nouns, though informal usage sometimes substitutes 'less.'
Easily confused with few
'Few' describes an indefinite small number, while 'fewer' is the comparative form used with countable nouns (fewer options), traditionally contrasted with 'less,' which is used with uncountable nouns.
'Phew' is an exclamation of relief and sounds identical to 'few,' but has no relation to quantity.