Aprendo español poco a poco.

I learn Spanish little by little.

Breakdown of Aprendo español poco a poco.

• yo: I
• aprender: to learn
• español: Spanish
• poco a poco: little by little

Questions & Answers about Aprendo español poco a poco.

Why is aprendo used here instead of estoy aprendiendo?

In Spanish, the simple present tense (aprendo) is often used to express ongoing actions when the context makes it clear that the action is happening over time. Adding poco a poco ("little by little") helps convey that the learning process is continuous. That said, estoy aprendiendo español poco a poco would also be correct, simply emphasizing the ongoing nature more strongly.

Does poco a poco have any other meanings besides "little by little"?

Poco a poco literally translates to "little by little," and it's mainly used to indicate gradual progress or a slow, steady change. While the phrase’s direct translation is fairly literal, you'll sometimes see it used to encourage someone to keep going step by step in situations beyond language learning, like doing any task gradually.

Why don’t we need a subject pronoun, such as yo, before aprendo?

In Spanish, subject pronouns (like yo, tú, él) are often omitted because the verb endings already carry the necessary information about who is performing the action. Aprendo can only refer to yo (I), so adding yo is optional and not required.

Is there a difference in register or formality between aprendo español poco a poco and estoy aprendiendo español poco a poco?

Not significantly. Both forms can be used in casual or more formal contexts. The difference resides more in how each tense focuses on the aspect of learning. Aprendo states a fact about your ongoing learning in a straightforward way, while estoy aprendiendo emphasizes the process right now. Both convey a similar idea, and neither is more or less polite in everyday conversation.

Can poco a poco be used with other verbs in Spanish?

Absolutely. Poco a poco can be paired with almost any verb or situation where you want to highlight that something is happening gradually. For example, Mejoro poco a poco ("I’m improving little by little") or Voy avanzando poco a poco ("I’m making progress step by step").