French word

seulement

Pronunciation

IPA/sœləmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adverbonly

Example

Je veux seulement un café.

I only want a coffee.

Illustration for seulement (only)

More examples

Ce n'est pas seulement son problème.

It is not only his problem.

Core concept

A spotlight falls on one selected item while everything else stays outside the statement.

Common phrases

  • pas seulement

    not only

  • seulement un café

    only a coffee

  • seulement deux heures

    only two hours

Similar words

juste: Indicates precisely that extent and no greater amount or degree.
simplement: Just that, without any additional element or condition.
uniquement: Restricts the meaning to a particular subject or purpose, excluding others.

Definition in French

Sert à limiter l'énoncé en précisant que seul l'élément mentionné est concerné par l'action, la quantité ou le choix.

Word origin

The adverb seulement formed from the adjective seul with the suffix -ment, and seul ultimately descends from Latin solus.

Usage tips

  • The position of seulement helps set its scope: before a noun it commonly limits that noun, while near a verb it can limit the action.

Other meanings

  • justadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word