/ˈnu.maj/
OrigineUniverbation of nu + mai. Compare Latin American Spanish nomás, Catalan només and Venetan noma. First attested in the 16th century.
The imperative-accompanying sense is a semantic loan from Hungarian csak.
- only (no more than)
“și nu numai” — and more
“numai că” — however, it’s just that
“Trenul merge cu numai 60 km/h.” — The train is only going 60 km/h.
- only (exclusively)
“Intrarea este permisă numai personalului autorizat.” — Entry for authorised personnel only.
“Numai temperaturile extreme pot rupe legătura azotului molecular.” — Only extreme heat can break the bond of molecular nitrogen.
- excessive, sometimesIndicates the subject to be characterised by an abundance of the respective noun: all
“numai un zâmbet” — all smiles
“Am mers desculț pe asfaltul fierbinte și acum picioarele-mi sunt numai bășici.” — I walked barefoot on the hot asphalt and now my feet are all blisters.
- informalalmost, nearly, just about (of an event that was close to happening)
“Furtuna de ieri numai că nu a doborât copacii.” — Yesterday’s storm nearly struck down the trees.
“Mama numai n-a leșinat când a aflat.” — Mum almost fainted when she found out.
- colloquialsuddenly, unexpectedly
“Mergeam cu el pe stradă, și numa-l văd cum cade într-o gură de canal.” — So I’m walking on the street with him, and suddenly I see him fall down a manhole.
- informalonly just (not long before)
“―Cât mai ai de lucru? ―Numai ce am terminat.” — “How much work do you have left?” “I just finished.”
“În Rusia numai ce se încheiase Primul Război Mondial, că a și început Războiul Civil.” — The First World War had just ended in Russia, when the Civil War began.
- just (quite)
“numai bun” — just fine
“numai bine” — quite well, just swimmingly
- nonstandardsynonym of ci (“but rather”)
- Transylvania, colloquialFollows an imperative, sometimes serving to point out the simplicity of the command or to disregard protest.
Formenuma'(alternative, apocopic, colloquial) · numa(alternative, apocopic, colloquial) · нумай(alternative)