Bu tek seçenek.

This is the only option.

Breakdown of Bu tek seçenek.

• bu: this
• seçenek: the option
• tek: single; only

Questions & Answers about Bu tek seçenek.

What does each word in Bu tek seçenek. mean?

• bu = this
• tek = single, sole, only
• seçenek = option, choice, alternative

So the sentence is built very compactly: this + only + option.

Why is there no word for is in the sentence?

In Turkish, the present tense of to be is often not said in simple sentences with a noun or adjective predicate.

So:

• Bu tek seçenek. = This is the only option.

This is completely normal Turkish.

If you want a more formal or emphatic version, you can add the copular ending:

• Bu tek seçenektir. = This is the only option.

But in everyday speech, the shorter version is much more common.

Does tek mean one or only here?