German word

nur

Pronunciation

IPA/nuːɐ̯/

Meaning

  • adverbonly

Example

Ich habe nur fünf Euro.

I have only five euros.

Illustration for nur (only)

More examples

Er spricht nur ein bisschen Deutsch.

I have just five euros.

Core concept

A boundary circles one permitted choice, quantity, or person and leaves the wider set beyond it.

Common phrases

  • nur ein bisschen

    just a little

  • nur mal

    just

Similar words

bloß: Informally emphasizes that the stated choice, amount, or person is all that applies.
allein: Stresses the presence of one person or thing without any others.
lediglich: Clearly limits the statement to the specified choice, amount, or person.

Definition in German

Nur zeigt an, dass etwas auf eine bestimmte Person, Sache oder Menge beschränkt ist.

Word origin

German nur comes through Middle High German nur from Old High German nuor; the word is an inherited Germanic particle rather than a later loanword.

Usage tips

  • In a sentence with a number, nur limits the amount, as in 'Ich habe nur fünf Euro', not the possession of the money itself.

Other meanings

  • justadverb
  • merelyadverb

Word lists with this word