Italian Phrase
Quasi, solo pochi minuti.
Meaning
Literally 'Almost, only a few minutes.' It is used to tell someone that something is about to finish or that only a short amount of time remains.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to give a quick estimate of remaining time, especially in informal conversation, waiting lines, cooking, or when a deadline is near.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quasisolopochiminuti
Quasi (adverb)
Means 'almost' or 'nearly' and modifies the whole statement, indicating that something is close to happening.
solo (adverb)
Used to mean 'only' or 'just' and limits the quantity that follows.
pochi (adjective)
Plural masculine form of 'poco', meaning 'few' and must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
minuti (noun, plural)
Masculine plural noun meaning 'minutes'.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto manca al treno?
How much longer until the train?
Quasi, solo pochi minuti.
Almost, only a few minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
Quasi, solo pochi minuti.
Do not translate 'solo' as 'alone' here; it means 'only'.
Solo, quasi pochi minuti.
Placing 'quasi' after 'solo' changes the meaning to 'almost only', which is not intended.
Quasi, solo pochi minuto.
Remember that 'minuti' is plural; using the singular 'minuto' would be grammatically incorrect with 'pochi'.
↔Alternatives
Mancano solo pochi minuti.
There are only a few minutes left.
Ci vorranno solo pochi minuti.
It will only take a few minutes.
È quasi finito, mancano pochi minuti.
It's almost finished, only a few minutes left.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, speakers often soften statements with 'quasi' to sound less abrupt. It can be used both in formal and informal settings, but the comma after 'quasi' is optional and reflects a slight pause in spoken language. Italians also love to be precise about time, so saying 'solo pochi minuti' conveys both urgency and reassurance.