we barely spoke

USAGE SUMMARY

"we barely spoke" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in order to express that two people had a brief conversation or exchange. Example: "We spent hours with each other, but we barely spoke."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

We barely spoke.

The New Yorker

Back in the boarding house, our fingers spidering through wallets, we barely spoke to each other.

The New Yorker

I hewed a life outside the room, and we barely spoke.

The New York Times - Magazine

We were so focussed that we barely spoke, although someone had had the good sense to bring a drum and bang it ominously.

The New Yorker

"I don't know very much about Guy-Man because we barely spoke, but Thomas is an incredibly intellectual guy," he told me.

The Guardian - Music

In fact, we barely spoke about religion at all except for joint expressions of frustration at the god botherers who made the rounds in the ICU and other units where dying people could be preyed upon by vulturous Christians.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

My dad and I were close, and now we barely speak.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Got into a minor altercation...We stopped speaking... Deleted his number... and that was that for a while...This present day, we barely speak and I'm not going to lie, I do kind of miss him at times; however, I love myself more.

Huffington Post

When we landed in Connecticut in 1993, we could barely speak the language.

Huffington Post

We have barely spoken to him, yet on leaving it feels like we know – from his food and his brow – a great deal about this charismatic man.

Independent

We've barely spoken at all since the last time I went home.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we barely spoke" to subtly indicate tension or distance between individuals, without explicitly stating conflict.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using "we barely spoke" in close succession. Vary your descriptions of the relationship dynamics with other phrases or actions to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we barely spoke" functions as a clause within a sentence, typically describing the extent of verbal interaction between two or more people. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we barely spoke" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to indicate minimal verbal communication between individuals. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its frequency is classified as uncommon, appearing primarily in news and media sources. The phrase functions to convey a lack of substantial conversation, often suggesting underlying tension or distance in relationships. Alternatives like "we hardly talked" or "we scarcely conversed" offer similar meanings with slight variations in tone. When using this phrase in writing, avoid overuse and consider varying your descriptions of relationship dynamics for better reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we hardly talked

This alternative focuses on the act of talking, suggesting a lack of conversation.

we didn't talk much

A more casual way of saying that conversation was limited.

we exchanged few words

Emphasizes the small number of words spoken.

we scarcely conversed

Uses a more formal tone, emphasizing the lack of substantial conversation.

we rarely exchanged words

Highlights the infrequency of any verbal interaction.

we had little dialogue

Focuses on the absence of a sustained back-and-forth.

our communication was minimal

Shifts the focus to the overall lack of communication, not just spoken words.

we were mostly silent

Highlights the lack of any vocal interaction.

we maintained silence

Suggests a deliberate choice to not engage in conversation.

we kept to ourselves

Broader than just conversation, encompassing a general lack of interaction and engagement.

FAQs

How can I use "we barely spoke" in a sentence?

Use "we barely spoke" to describe a situation where there was minimal conversation. For example, "Despite sitting next to each other for hours, "we barely spoke"."

What does "we barely spoke" imply about a relationship?

It often suggests a lack of connection, tension, or a deliberate avoidance of communication. The specific implication depends on the context.

Are there more formal alternatives to "we barely spoke"?

Yes, phrases like "we scarcely conversed" or "our communication was minimal" offer a more formal tone.

Is "we barely spoke" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The structure follows standard English sentence construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.