The Restrictive Particle Tek for Time and Progress
The particle tek is a versatile word used to restrict or emphasize a statement. When talking about time, progress, or age, it translates to "only just". It implies that an event, action, or milestone happened very recently.
Before looking at examples, here are some common milestone words you will often see used with it:
- punoljetan (of age)
- odrasti (to grow up)
- osamostaliti se (to become independent)
| Ivan's son is only just of age and hasn't grown up yet. | Ivanov sin je tek punoljetan i još nije odrastao. |
| She became independent only when she turned twenty. | Ona se osamostalila tek kada je napunila dvadeset. |
You can also use tek to emphasize that a project or process has "only just" begun. This is especially common when explaining delays or dealing with an ograničen (limited) budžet (budget):
| Since the budget is limited, we have only just started the project. | Budući da je budžet ograničen, tek smo počeli projekt. |
Using Tek for Small Quantities
When discussing amounts, tek translates to "only", "just", or "barely". This emphasizes that a physical quantity or resource is very small.
Key vocabulary for talking about limited amounts includes:
- zaliha (the supply)
- kap (the drop)
- zarada (the earnings)
- džeparac (the pocket money)
| There is only a drop of water in the supply. | U zalihi ima tek kap vode. |
| His earnings are only pocket money. | Njegova zarada je tek džeparac. |
Tek Meaning "Not Until"
Finally, when paired with a future time expression, tek translates smoothly to "not until". This shows that something will happen later than expected. For example, using the noun ostatak (the rest):
| We will get the rest only tomorrow. | Ostatak ćemo dobiti tek sutra. |
