само
Only
Само means only or just: Само момент! (Just a moment!), Говоря само български. (I speak only Bulgarian.)
How It Works
1. Position decides the meaning. Само goes right before the word it limits:
- Само Мария знае отговора. (Only Maria knows the answer.)
- Мария знае само отговора. (Maria knows only the answer, and nothing else.)
2. With numbers and amounts. само пет евро (only five euros), само един въпрос (just one question), само за минута (just for a minute).
3. Useful phrases.
- Само момент! (Just a moment!)
- само че (only, but): Хубаво е, само че е скъпо.
- само ако (only if): Ще дойда само ако имам време. (I will come only if I have time.)
- не само..., но и (not only ... but also); see не само..., но и.
4. Само is not сам. Само never changes its form. Сам (alone, by oneself) is a different word that agrees with the person: Живея сам. (I live alone.) See сам and самият.
5. The only one. For the only as an adjective, use единствен: Той е единственият ми приятел тук. (He is my only friend here.)
Examples (6)
- Само един въпрос, моля.
Just one question, please.
- Говоря само български и английски.
I speak only Bulgarian and English.
- Само Мария знае отговора.
Only Maria knows the answer.
- Билетът струва само пет евро.
The ticket costs only five euros.
- Хубаво е, само че е скъпо.
It is nice, only it is expensive.
- Само момент!
Just a moment!
Common Mistakes
Using само (only) instead of сам (alone).
Живея само.Живея сам.Само means only. For alone or by oneself, use сам, which agrees with the person: сам, сама, сами.
Putting само before the wrong word.
Само аз говоря български. (meant: I speak only Bulgarian)Аз говоря само български.Само limits the word right after it. Само аз means only I, not only Bulgarian.
Using само for the only before a noun.
Той е само приятелят ми тук. (meant: my only friend)Той е единственият ми приятел тук.Само приятелят ми тук means just my friend here. For the only one, use the adjective единствен: единственият ми приятел.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- не само..., но иNot Only ... but Also
Builds not only ... but also on само.
Level 3 - сам / самиятAlone and Oneself with Сам and Самият
Сам (alone) is a different word that learners often confuse with само.
Level 4 - чакNot Until and All the Way with Чак
Another focus word that stresses an amount or time.
Level 4 - едваBarely and Only with Едва
Also means only, but for something late or barely achieved.
Level 4 - дори/дажеEven
Even is another word that focuses on one part of the sentence.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice само in Bubblegum
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