enbart

Enbart is an adverb used in Swedish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Danish to mean "only" or "merely." It serves to limit the scope of a statement and is typically more formal or emphatic than the common synonym bara. In written and formal registers, enbart is frequently chosen to convey a precise limitation.

In Swedish, enbart can modify verbs, adjectives, or noun phrases, and can function as a sentence adverb. Examples: "Han har enbart sett filmen" (He has only watched the film) and "Enbart de bästa får plats" (Only the best fit). In Norwegian and Danish, the word shares the same meaning and can appear in equivalent positions: "Dette er enbart en midlertidig løsning" and "Det er enbart en midlertidig løsning." In everyday speech, bara or bare is more common, but enbart remains frequent in formal or written language.

Etymology and cognates: enbart is a North Germanic word, with cognates across Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian. Its core meaning is consistent across these languages, originating from elements that express limitation or exclusivity.

Usage notes: enbart tends to be placed before the element it modifies, and can appear as a sentence adverb for emphasis. It is often preferred in legal, academic, or formal writing, while in casual speech bara is the typical choice.

See also: bara; only.