adjectivemasculinepl: parcos (masculine plural) / parcas (feminine plural)
scarce, sparse, meager, scant
1. small in quantity; limited or insufficient in amount
The supplies were parcos and had to be rationed carefully.
Os suprimentos eram parcos e precisavam ser racionados cuidadosamente.
2. frugal or sparing in expenditure; not generous
He was parcos with his praise, rarely complimenting anyone.
Ele era parco com seus elogios, raramente elogiando alguém.
3. sparse or thin in distribution or appearance
The vegetation was parcos in the arid region.
A vegetação era parça na região árida.
The adjective 'parco' is more commonly found in formal, written Portuguese (literature, journalism) than in everyday Brazilian Portuguese speech. In casual conversation, Brazilians more often use 'escasso' or 'pouco' to express the same idea. However, the word remains important in literary and formal contexts across both Portugal and Brazil.
Related Idioms & Phrases
parco em palavras - few words, quiet/reserved person
ser parco em gastos - to be frugal/stingy with spending
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