Alleen

Alleen is a common Dutch word with two core functions. As an adverb it means only or merely, and as a predicative or adjectival form it means alone or by oneself. In sentences it can express limitation, emphasis, or solitude: for example, Ik ben alleen (I am alone) and Het is alleen een grap (It is only a joke). The sense is often determined by context and intonation.

In combination with other words, alleen frequently appears in phrases such as alleen maar, which adds emphasis and a sense of exclusivity. For instance, Het kost alleen maar geld means it costs only money or it is merely money. When describing a person or thing more specifically, Nederlanders use related forms such as de enige or enkel, depending on nuance, while alleenstaande is used to mean solitary or single, as in een alleenstaande ouder (a single parent).

Etymology and usage notes: linguists trace alleen to older Dutch forms connected with the idea of wholeness or totality, with roots in the broader Proto-Germanic language family. In modern Dutch, alleen is versatile and can be neutral or slightly informal, depending on context. It contrasts with synonyms like slechts, enkel, or maar, which carry different emphasis or formality. Although closely related in meaning, alleen should be chosen to fit whether the speaker intends “alone” in a physical or social sense, or “only” in a limiting or exclusive sense.