seulement

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/sœl.mɑ̃/

adverb

only

just

merely

Je serai là dans seulement deux minutes.

I'll be there in only two minutes.

Synonyms:uniquement, juste, rien que

adverb

(introducing an objection or limitation) but

however

except that

J'aurais bien voulu venir, seulement j'étais malade.

I would have liked to come, but I was sick.

Synonyms:mais, cependant

Notes

GENERAL INFO

Seulement is an adverb meaning "only" or "just." It indicates a limitation or restriction.

USAGE

It usually precedes the word or phrase it modifies. For example: "J'ai seulement une heure" (I only have one hour). It can also emphasize a point: "Il a seulement dit la vérité" (He merely told the truth).

TRAPS

Seulement can often be replaced by the structure "ne...que" in French, especially when expressing "only" in a quantity or time. "J'ai seulement deux livres" means the same as "Je n'ai que deux livres." While often interchangeable, "ne...que" often implies a stronger sense of limitation.