Só or apenas? What's the difference?

Portuguese Questions
1

Hi, I will be happy if you can clarify the difference between the two, and when and how to use each.
Obrigado.

2

@idaneliakim, when used as adverbs, meaning “only” or “just”, só and apenas are interchangeable :slight_smile: Só is arguably more used.

  • Sou só eu. = Sou apenas eu. (It’s just me)
  • Tu só chegaste hoje? = Tu apenas chegaste hoje? (Did you only arrive today?)

Só is also commonly used as an adjective (meaning “alone”, “lonely” or “single”). It’s also included in the expression só que, which means “but”. In these other cases, só and apenas are not interchangeable.

  • Nós fizemos tudo de uma só vez. (We did everything at once - or, a bit more literally, "We did everything on a single turn)
  • Ele sente-se só. (He feels lonely)
2 Likes
3

:blush: Thanks, that’s makes it clear. Muito obrigado.

1 Like
4

PP has defined “apenas” as just, only and “só” as only, just.
I’m still confused why to use each of them.
When you translate “only I was in the room”, you use apenas, but most times “só” seems to be used more often.
At Lisbon Airport yesterday I saw a sign with a picture of a person with hand luggage and the sign said “Apenas” i.e. only for use by people with hand luggage (i.e. no luggage trolleys).
This seemed the wrong choice for me, but I must be wrong!
How and when should each of them be used, day to day
Thanks
Les

5

@les.penfold, the two terms are mostly interchangeable, with só being more used in everyday life due to being shorter and sounding slightly less formal than apenas. We already had a different thread for this same subject, so I merged your post with it :slight_smile: You’ll find an earlier reply with a more detailed explanation.

6

Would it be true to say that ‘apenas’ is used when referring to something that is limited to… so as in the earlier comment the area was ‘limited to’ those with hand luggage?

7

Olá, @Jocam64! Yes, but that is true for both apenas and só.

8

I am still confused, as I instinctively seem to use só, more often but PP regularly gives apenas and it is difficult to tell whether this is PP’s choice or whether, in the particular context, you can only use apenas. Are there specific instances where only apenas is used or definitely more common?

9

@mjsclarke, it’s just a choice :slight_smile: Só can be perceived as somehow more informal than apenas (this is subjective, based on common usage patterns) and for this reason, apenas might be unintentionally overrepresented throughout our exercise units, where the phrases are often written in a neutral to formal-ish tone. On the other hand, só is probably what we use the most in our podcasts and dialogue-based shorties.