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Not a soul: meaning, definitions and examples

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not a soul

[ nɒt ə səʊl ]

Phrase

^{Context #1 | Phrase}

expression

No one at all; absolutely no person.

Synonyms

no one, nobody, not a single person.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
not a soul	This phrase is often used for dramatic or emphatic purposes to stress the complete absence of people. It can be used in both written and spoken English. When I arrived at the park, there was not a soul in sight. She searched the house, but there was not a soul to be found.
no one	This is a neutral way to indicate that there are no people present or involved. It's commonly used in both casual and formal contexts. No one knows where he went after the meeting. There was no one at home when I called.
nobody	Similar to 'no one', but slightly more informal. It can be used in everyday conversations and written texts. Nobody told me about the change in plans. There was nobody in the office at that time.
not a single person	This phrase emphasizes the complete absence of individuals, often used for stronger emphasis. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Not a single person volunteered to help. She waited all day, but not a single person came to see her.

Examples of usage

There was not a soul in sight when I arrived.
I called out for help, but there was not a soul to be found.

Translations

Translations of the word "not a soul" in other languages:

🇵🇹 nenhuma alma

🇮🇳 कोई भी व्यक्ति नहीं

🇩🇪 keine Seele

🇮🇩 tidak ada jiwa

🇺🇦 жодної душі

🇵🇱 ani żywej duszy

🇯🇵 誰もいない (daremo inai)

🇫🇷 pas une âme

🇪🇸 ni un alma

🇹🇷 hiçbir ruh

🇰🇷 영혼도 없다 (yeong-hondo eopsda)

🇸🇦 ليس هناك أحد (laysa hunaka 'ahad)

🇨🇿 ani duše

🇸🇰 ani duša

🇨🇳 一个人也没有 (yī gè rén yě méi yǒu)

🇸🇮 niti duša

🇮🇸 ekki ein einasta sál

🇰🇿 бірде-бір жан жоқ

🇬🇪 არცერთი სული

🇦🇿 heç bir ruh

🇲🇽 ni una sola alma

Etymology

The phrase 'not a soul' originated in English around the 14th century. It is a negation of the concept of 'soul,' emphasizing the absence of any individual. The use of 'soul' in this context reflects the idea of a person's essence or being. Over time, the phrase has become a common expression to convey the complete absence of people in a particular place or situation.