blott

Definition & meaning

Blott has several meanings:

• Only, merely, or just: a somewhat formal or literary way to limit an amount or statement.
  • Det tog blott en minut. — “It took only a minute.”
• Bare or exposed: not covered or protected, chiefly in formal or literary use.
  • Han gick med blott huvud. — “He went bareheaded.”

Grammar & Word origin

As an adverb meaning “only,” blott is invariable. As an adjective meaning “bare,” it has forms such as blottad ↗ in related usage, though blott itself is often used in fixed expressions.

The word is related to German bloß, meaning “bare” or “merely.” The sense “only” developed from the idea of something being bare or unadorned.

Synonyms & antonyms

For “only”:

• endast ↗ — “only”; neutral and more common.
• bara ↗ — “only”; common in everyday speech.

For “bare”:

• bar ↗ — “bare”; the more usual adjective.
• täckt ↗ — “covered,” an antonym of the “bare” sense.

Common phrases & collocations

• blott och bart ↗ — “simply” or “nothing more than.”
• med blotta ögat ↗ — “with the naked eye.”
• blotta tanken ↗ — “the mere thought.”