Translation only in the English-French Collins dictionary

only

  adj seul(e)
Monday is the only day I'm free.  Lundi est le seul jour où je suis libre.
French is the only subject I like.  Le français est la seule matière que j'aime.
→ He was the only survivor.
→ The only English city he enjoyed working in was Manchester.
the only one   (=person) le seul or la seule
I was the only one smoking.  J'étais le seul à fumer.
the only one of us  le seul d'entre nous
→ John is the only one of us who understands computers.
(=thing) le seul or la seule
→ This model is the only one you should consider buying.
→ Strawberry ice-cream is the only one I like.

adv

(=just)  (with number) seulement
How much was it? - Only 10 euros.  Combien c'était? - Seulement dix euros.
I only took one.  Je n'en ai pris qu'un.
these are only some of ...  ce ne sont que quelques uns des ...

not only  non seulement
not only ... but ...  non seulement ... mais ...
→ Chimps not only use tools but make them.
→ Not only is she clever, but she's actually witty as well.

  (in verb clauses) ne ... que
We only want to stay for one night.  Nous ne voulons rester qu'une nuit.
These cassettes are only 5 euros.  Ces cassettes ne coûtent que cinq euros.
He's only a boy.  Ce n'est qu'un enfant.
→ Child car seats only cost about £10 a week to hire.
I was only joking  je plaisantais

(=exclusively) ne ... que
→ I'm only interested in finding out the facts.
→ The video is to be used for teaching purposes only.
He read only paperbacks.  Il ne lit que des livres de poche.
only if  seulement si
→ The lawyer is paid only if he wins.

  (recent time) I saw her only last week.  Je l'ai vue pas plus tard que la semaine dernière.
I saw her only yesterday.  Je l'ai vue pas plus tard qu'hier.
I remember it as if it was only yesterday.  Je m'en souviens comme si c'était hier.
only just   (=very recently) tout juste
I've only just arrived.  Je viens tout juste d'arriver.

only just (=barely) tout juste
Farmers have only just managed to survive. Les agriculteurs ont tout juste réussi à survivre.

(=very)
to be only too pleased  n'être que trop content
I'd be only too pleased to help.  Je ne serais que trop content de vous aider.
→ I'll be only too pleased to help them out with any queries.
only too well, I know only too well ...  Je ne sais que trop bien ...
→ I know only too well that plans can easily go wrong.
→ When the new baby comes along it is only too easy to shut out the others.
it's only too easy to ...  il n'est que trop facile de ...

it's only fair, It's only fair to keep her informed.  Ce n'est que justice de la tenir informée.
→ It's only fair to let her know that you intend to apply.
it's only natural, It's only natural that she should be upset.  C'est bien naturel qu'elle ait de la peine.

conj

(=it's just that) seulement
I would come, only I'm very busy.  Je viendrais bien, seulement j'ai beaucoup à faire.
I meant to tell you, only I forgot.  Je voulais vous le dire, seulement j'ai oublié.
→ I'd invite you to come with me, only it's such a long way

(=but) mais
I'd like the same sweater, only in black. Je voudrais le même pull, mais en noir.
Snake meat is like chicken, only tougher. La viande de serpent est comme le poulet, mais en plus dur.

(but were/was) We asked for her autograph only to be ignored. Nous lui avons demandé son autographe seulement pour nous voir ignorés.
→ I tried ringing them dozens of times only to find the number engaged.

Collaborative Dictionary English-French


Seule la restauration ...	n.	Only restore allowed.	~