Sie hatte ihre Rede kaum beendet, als Applaus den Raum erfüllte.
English: She had barely finished her speech when applause filled the room.
kaum /kˈaʊm/ · adverb · CEFR B2. German translation of "barely".
See also: Vocabulary entry (German)
- Source term
- barely
- Translation
- kaum
- CEFR Level
- B2
- Part of speech
- adverb
- Image
Pronunciation audio — Open the full phoneme overview
Listen to how "kaum" sounds in German.
Article, Gender & Forms
This adverb is shown in its dictionary form.
| Dictionary form | kaum |
|---|---|
| Use note | Use the form shown here as the lookup form. |
How to use it in a sentence
- Pattern
- Subject + helper/modal + kaum
- Examples
- Wir müssen oft kaum.
- Tip
- Adjust endings and word order to match the full sentence.
Example Sentences
Er verdient kaum genug, um seine monatliche Miete zu bezahlen.
English: He barely earns enough to cover his monthly rent payments.
Ich konnte ihre Stimme wegen der lauten Musik kaum hören.
English: I could barely hear her voice over the loud music.
Related vocabulary
Practice this in SmartWords
Move from lookup to repetition with guided vocabulary exercises, saved words, and CEFR-based lesson paths.
Keep exploring
Play SmartWords games
Six word games built around our real vocabulary — free in the browser, no install.
Open the game hub →-
Word Sling
Match the center word under time pressure and keep the combo alive.
Play now → -
Word Gate
Fly through the correct gate before the speed ramps up.
Play now → -
Word Ninja
Slice the goal-language words, avoid the main-language decoy, and chase the announced bonus target.
Play now → -
Word Zip
Trace a single path across the board, hit each letter anchor in order, and fill every open cell.
Play now → -
Word Oddity
Pick the word that doesn't belong from a topic-driven set — every tap reveals all four meanings and images so the round becomes a flash-card too.
Play now → -
Word Memory
Flip and match goal-language words to their main-language meaning before your lives run out.
Play now →