maltroa

Esperanto

Etymology

From mal- (“opposite of”) +‎ troa (“too much, too many”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /malˈtroa/
• Rhymes: -oa

Adjective

maltroa (accusative singular maltroan, plural maltroaj, accusative plural maltroajn)

1. too little, too few

   Synonyms: tro malmulta, maltro da

   Antonym: troa

Usage notes

• To say "too little" or "too few" both "maltroa" and "maltro da" can be used. There exists, however, a difference between "maltroa" and "maltro da", though it is subtle. "Maltro da" expresses a sense of collection, of belonging together somehow; something that is not the case for "maltroa". Consider, for example, the difference between "Maltro da homoj ĝuis la koncerton." (Too few people enjoyed the concert.) and "Maltroaj homoj ĝuis ĉi tiun kompaktdiskon." (Too few people have enjoyed this CD.). The first sentence expresses the notion that the people have listened to the concert together, whereas any such notion is absent from the second sentence.

Derived terms

• maltroega
• maltroeta