len / iba
Only: Len and Iba
Len and iba mean only or just: Mám len päť eur. (I only have five euros.)
How It Works
Same meaning, two words
Len and iba can replace each other. Len is a little more common in everyday speech.
Position decides the meaning
- Iba ty mi rozumieš. Only you understand me. (nobody else)
- Pijem iba vodu. I only drink water. (nothing else)
- Bol som tam len raz. I've only been there once. (not more often)
Just, merely
Before a verb, len means just: Len sa pozerám, ďakujem. (I'm just looking, thanks.) With numbers and time it can mean not more than you might expect: Je len sedem hodín. (It's only seven o'clock.)
Only as an adjective
When English only means the one and only, Slovak uses the adjective jediný: moje jediné auto (my only car). Len and iba never stand between an adjective and its noun.
Look-alikes. Len čo means as soon as, and nielen ... ale aj means not only ... but also. See As Soon As and Not Only ... but Also.
Examples (6)
- Mám len päť eur.
I only have five euros.
- Iba ty mi rozumieš.
Only you understand me.
iba stands before ty, so it means nobody else.
- Pijem iba vodu.
I only drink water.
- Bol som tam len raz.
I've only been there once.
- Je len sedem hodín.
It's only seven o'clock.
- Len sa pozerám, ďakujem.
I'm just looking, thanks.
A useful phrase in a shop. Before a verb, len means just.
Common Mistakes
Using len for only in the sense of the one and only.
Je to moje len auto.Je to moje jediné auto.For one and only, Slovak uses the adjective jediný, which agrees with the noun: jediný syn, jediná šanca, jediné auto.
Putting iba before the wrong word (intended meaning: Peter drinks only coffee, nothing else).
Iba Peter pije kávu.Peter pije iba kávu.Iba Peter means only Peter and nobody else. To limit what he drinks, put iba right before kávu.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- už / ešteAlready, Still and Yet
Other small time and limit words: already, still, yet.
Level 2 - aj / tiež / aniAlso, Too and Not Even
Aj adds something; len and iba limit it.
Level 2 - len čo / hneď akoAs Soon as
Len čo is a different expression: as soon as.
Level 4 - nielen ... ale ajNot Only ... but Also
Nielen means not only and is followed by ale aj.
Level 4 - sám / samýAlone, Oneself and Nothing but
Samý means nothing but, close to only.
Level 4 - ibažeExcept That and Unless
Ibaže, built from iba, means except that or unless.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice len / iba in Bubblegum
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