paulatina

Paulatina is the feminine form of the Spanish adjective paulatino, used to describe a process or change that occurs gradually, in small steps, over time. The term highlights a steady, incremental progression rather than abrupt shifts. It is commonly applied to growth, decline, or improvements when the pace is slow and predictable. The adverb form is paulatinamente, meaning gradually or little by little, and the related noun often appears as una tendencia paulatina or un aumento paulatino in journalistic or analytical writing.

Etymology: Paulatino derives from the adverb paulatinamente, which itself comes from Latin paulātim meaning “little by little.” The feminine form paulatina agrees with feminine nouns in Spanish.

Usage: Use paulatina with feminine nouns (la economía muestra una subida paulatina, una mejora paulatina). For masculine nouns you would use paulatino, and the corresponding adverb remains paulatinamente. In contexts, paulatina can carry a slightly more formal or technical tone than synonyms such as gradual or progresiva.

Examples: La curva de demanda muestra un incremento paulatino. La inflación presenta una desaceleración paulatina. La población mostró un crecimiento paulatino durante décadas.

Notes: Paulatina emphasizes a measured, ongoing process and is common in scientific, economic, and analytical writing. It is interchangeable with near-synonyms depending on gender and stylistic preference, though it often conveys a more precise sense of gradual pace.