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alone; by oneself
Ich möchte allein sein.
I want to be alone.
Er lebt allein in einer kleinen Wohnung.
He lives alone in a small apartment.
Can also imply 'only' or 'solely' in certain contexts.
only; solely
Allein durch harte Arbeit kann man Erfolg haben.
Only through hard work can one achieve success.
Das allein ist nicht genug.
That alone is not enough.
'Allein' can mean both 'alone' and 'only'. Pay attention to the context to determine the correct translation.
'Allein' is an adverb when it modifies a verb (e.g., 'allein gehen') and an adjective when it modifies a noun (e.g., 'alleinige Verantwortung').
From Middle High German 'al ein', meaning 'all one' or 'by oneself'.
'Allein' can function as an adverb or adjective, depending on context. It often emphasizes solitude or exclusivity.