only, adverb

colloquial. Used as an intensifier: ‘really’. Cf. maar adverb sense 1.

1970 G. Hassett Informant, Bloemfontein, Free StateGosh, I only had sukkel to open that bottle.

1975 [see naartjie noun sense 2].

1975 [see smaak].

1976 [see woes].

1978 [see skraal sense 1].

1982 Sunday Times 6 June (Mag. Sect.)I’m sitting there minding my own beeswax and watching all the comings and goings-on, and it’s only funny.

1983 J. Allan in Sunday Times 21 Jan.There was only a gevalt..the night Tannie M— found E— in Miriam’s kia.

1983 Sunday Times 8 May 21Bliksem, these outjies from the South can only box.

1984 Frontline May 38Man but it’s only lekker to be back in Joeys.

1987 M. Poland Train to Doringbult 106‘He was only in a flap!’ Kobie laughed. ‘Real old woman sometimes!’

1991 [see lank adv.].

Used as an intensifier: ‘really’.

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"Only, adv." Dictionary of South African English. Dictionary Unit for South African English, 2025. Web. 04 October 2025.

Dictionary of South African English, s.v. "only, adv." accessed October 04, 2025, https://dsae.co.za/entry/only/e05354.

Only, adv. (2025). In Dictionary of South African English. Retrieved from https://dsae.co.za/entry/only/e05354

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