French translation of hardly is 
guère

Meaning of "hardly" in English

The word "hardly" in English is an adverb that is used to imply something is done with significant difficulty or is almost not the case. It often conveys a sense of minimal achievement or presence. For instance, when someone says, "I hardly slept last night," they mean that they slept very little. It's also employed to express disbelief or skepticism toward a statement, such as, "I can hardly believe it." Overall, "hardly" indicates an extent that is closer to 'not at all' than 'completely.'

Meaning of "guère" in French

In French, "guère" functions similarly to "hardly" in English. It is an adverb used to indicate a small degree or amount, often translating to 'hardly,' 'barely,' or 'scarcely' in English. It is used to emphasize the insufficiency or minimal nature of an action or condition. For example, "Il ne mange guère" translates to "He hardly eats." It's important to note that "guère" is typically used in negative constructions in French, providing emphasis on the minimal extent of an action.

Pronunciation of "hardly" in English

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈhɑːrdli/

Pronunciation Variations: In British English, the word is pronounced with a clear 'h' sound and the 'r' is less pronounced than in American English, where the 'r' is more pronounced, and it may sound like "HAHRD-lee." Accents may slightly alter the vowel sounds, but the standard phonetic emphasis remains consistent.

Pronunciation of "guère" in French

Phonetic Transcription: /ɡɛʁ/

Pronunciation Variations: In standard French, the pronunciation remains fairly consistent, with a guttural 'r' sound typical of the language. However, regional accents might slightly affect the clarity of the vowel sound, where it could be softer or more nasal in certain dialects.

Sentence examples in English and translation to French

1. He could hardly wait for the weekend.
   (Il ne pouvait guère attendre le week-end.)

2. She hardly knows anyone at the new school.
   (Elle ne connaît guère personne dans la nouvelle école.)

3. I can hardly hear what you're saying over the noise.
   (Je ne peux guère entendre ce que tu dis à cause du bruit.)

4. They hardly ever visit us these days.
   (Ils ne nous rendent guère visite ces jours-ci.)

5. The weather was so bad, we could hardly see anything.
   (Le temps était si mauvais que nous ne pouvions guère voir quoi que ce soit.)

6. He hardly spoke a word during the meeting.
   (Il n'a guère parlé pendant la réunion.)

7. I hardly think that's a good idea.
   (Je ne pense guère que ce soit une bonne idée.)

8. She hardly slept last night.
   (Elle n'a guère dormi la nuit dernière.)

9. We hardly finished our work before the deadline.
   (Nous avons guère terminé notre travail avant la date limite.)

10. The movie was so boring, I could hardly stay awake.
    (Le film était si ennuyeux que je ne pouvais guère rester éveillé.)

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "hardly" in English

Synonyms: barely, scarcely, just, only just, marginally

Antonyms: easily, completely, entirely, fully, totally

Similar Words: almost, nearly, faintly, slightly, somewhat

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "guère" in French

Synonyms: à peine, difficilement, rarement, peu, presque pas

Antonyms: facilement, complètement, entièrement, totalement, abondamment

Similar Words: presque, à peine, rarement, un peu, légèrement

Disclaimer: These examples may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Translate.com, or its company Translate LLC. We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to our team.