Usage Note
mindestens sets a numerical or quantitative floor: 'at least this much'. For 'at the very least' in a concessive sense ('you could at least call'), Germans more often reach for wenigstens, which carries an emotional, reproachful tone the neutral mindestens lacks.
Examples
"Das dauert mindestens eine Stunde."
Natural Translation
That takes at least an hour.
Literal Translation
That lasts at-least one hour.
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