little / few

I have a few [=some/a small number of] friends. I have few friends. [=I do not have many friends] A few people [=some people] arrived early. Few people [=not very many people] arrived early.

The difference in meaning is subtle, but usually few puts a little more attention on the negative—that there is not a large number (of people or things). A few puts a little more attention on the positive—that there is a small number (of people or things).