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allein
/aˈlaɪ̯n/
alone
Ich gehe allein ins Kino.
I'm going to the cinema alone.
neutral
without company; by oneself
Sie lebt allein in einer kleinen Wohnung.
She lives alone in a small apartment.
Er hat das Projekt allein bewältigt.
He completed the project by himself.
Used for physical solitude or independent action. Not to be confused with 'nur' (only) or 'einsam' (lonely).
neutral
only; solely; just
Allein sein Geld reicht nicht aus.
Just his money isn't enough.
Das allein ist schon ein Problem.
That alone is already a problem.
Emphasizes exclusivity. Often used with 'nur' for stronger emphasis.
formal
but; however (in concessive clauses)
Er ist reich, allein nicht glücklich.
He is rich, but not happy.
Das ist teuer, allein es lohnt sich.
It's expensive, however it's worth it.
Introduces a contrasting statement. More common in written or formal speech.
Collocations
allein lassento leave aloneallein erziehento raise alone (as a single parent)allein seinto be alonenicht alleinnot alone
Pro Tip
Position in Sentences
As an adverb, 'allein' typically appears after the verb or at the beginning/end of a clause. Example: 'Er kommt allein.' (He's coming alone.)
Gold Rule
Avoid Confusion with 'nur'
'Allein' emphasizes solitude or exclusivity, while 'nur' means 'only' or 'just'. Example: 'Ich habe nur ein Buch.' (I only have one book.) vs. 'Ich bin allein.' (I'm alone.)
Word Origin
From Middle High German 'allein', from Old High German 'allein', composed of 'al' (all) + 'ein' (one). Cognate with Dutch 'alleen', English 'alone'.
Usage Notes
In spoken German, 'allein' is often used interchangeably with 'nur' for emphasis, though 'nur' is more common. The concessive use ('but') is archaic in casual speech but persists in formal writing.
Word Breakdown
al-
all
prefix-lein
diminutive/single
suffixDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch