tikai

Only: Tikai

Level 2

Tikai means only. Put it right before the word it limits: Man ir tikai viens brālis (I have only one brother).

How It Works

1. Tikai limits the next word. It stands right before the word or phrase it applies to.

  • Man ir tikai viens brālis. (I have only one brother.)
  • Tas maksā tikai divus eiro. (It costs only two euros.)

2. Moving tikai changes the meaning.

  • Tikai es runāju latviski. (Only I speak Latvian. Nobody else does.)
  • Es runāju tikai latviski. (I speak only Latvian. No other language.)
  • Es tikai runāju latviski. (I only speak Latvian. I do not write it.)

3. With times: not until. Before a time, tikai says that something happens later than you might expect: Veikals atveras tikai desmitos (The shop does not open until ten), Viņš atbrauks tikai rīt (He will not arrive until tomorrow).

4. Requests and warnings. Tikai also adds emphasis to a request or warning, much like English just: Tikai nekavē! (Just do not be late!)

5. The only one. When English only describes a noun (my only brother), Latvian uses the adjective vienīgais, not tikai: Viņš ir mans vienīgais brālis.

Tikai is also part of the pair ne tikai ..., bet arī (not only ..., but also).

Examples (6)

  1. Man ir tikai viens brālis.

    I have only one brother.

  2. Es runāju tikai latviski.

    I speak only Latvian.

    Tikai stands before latviski, so the language is limited.

  3. Tikai es runāju latviski.

    Only I speak Latvian.

    Now tikai stands before es, so the person is limited.

  4. Veikals atveras tikai desmitos.

    The shop does not open until ten.

    Before a time, tikai often means not until.

  5. Tas maksā tikai divus eiro.

    It costs only two euros.

  6. Tikai nekavē!

    Just do not be late!

    In a request or warning, tikai adds emphasis, like English just.

Common Mistakes

  • Using tikai for the adjective only (the only one).

    Viņš ir mans tikai brālis.
    Viņš ir mans vienīgais brālis.

    Tikai limits a word in the sentence. To say someone or something is the only one, use the adjective vienīgais (vienīgā for a feminine noun).

  • Using tikai for just now.

    Viņš tikai aizgāja.
    Viņš tikko aizgāja.

    To say He has just left, use tikko. Tikai means only, so Viņš tikai aizgāja says He only left, as if leaving was all he did.

How It Connects

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tikaiLevel 2Only: Tikai

Learn This First

Tikai goes before the word it limits.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern