spärlich
sparse
Present in a small amount, number, or density; not lush or abundant.
EXAMPLE
Nach der langen Dürre war die Vegetation in der Region nur noch spärlich.
After the long drought, the vegetation in the region was only sparse.
spärlich
sparse / scanty
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Meanings
spärlich
sparse / bare
Simple, bare, and without luxury or comfort, especially with regard to furnishings or equipment.
EXAMPLE
Das Zimmer war nur spärlich mit einem Bett und einem Stuhl möbliert.
The room was only sparsely furnished with a bed and a chair.
Usage tips
Word family
'Spärlich' (sparse/scanty) belongs to the word family of 'sparen' (to save). The connection is the idea that something is present only very sparingly or in small amounts, as if it had to be saved up.
EXAMPLE
Trotz des Erfolgs lebte er weiterhin sehr spärlich.
Despite his success, he continued to live very sparsely.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'wenig' (little/not much), 'spärlich' often describes things that grow or occur in a certain quantity. Typical nouns are: vegetation, growth, hair growth, or also abstract things like information.
EXAMPLE
Die Informationen über den Vorfall sind bisher nur spärlich.
Information about the incident has so far been only scanty.
Adverbial use
In the meaning of 'karg' (bare/austere), 'spärlich' is very often used as an adverb to describe furnishings or equipment. Common combinations are 'spärlich möbliert' (sparsely furnished), 'spärlich beleuchtet' (dimly/sparsely lit), or 'spärlich eingerichtet' (sparsely furnished/equipped).
EXAMPLE
Die Hütte war nur spärlich beleuchtet.
The hut was only dimly lit.
Compare with
spärlich vs knapp
scarce / just under / close
When referring to information, both knapp and spärlich can be associated with a small amount. A knappe presentation is brief and limited to the essentials. Spärliche information, by contrast, is available only in a small amount and may be missing important details.
spärlich
Die Polizei gab nur spärliche Informationen heraus, weil viele Einzelheiten noch fehlten.
The police released only sparse information because many details were still missing.
knapp
Die Polizei gab eine knappe Mitteilung mit den wichtigsten Fakten heraus.
The police issued a brief statement containing the most important facts.
In real life
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