mero
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “mero” mean in English?
mere — nothing more than what is specified; used to minimise
mere — nothing more than what is specified; used to minimise (mera coincidencia, mero trámite)
Example sentences
Lo que parecía un mero problema técnico resultó ser un fallo estructural que afectaba a todo el sistema de seguridad.
What appeared to be a mere technical problem turned out to be a structural failure affecting the entire security system.
No fue una mera coincidencia: las similitudes entre ambos documentos eran demasiado precisas para ser casuales.
It was not mere coincidence: the similarities between both documents were too precise to be accidental.
How to use it
Mero/a means 'mere' — nothing more than; used to minimise or deflate. Always precedes the noun it modifies: un mero trámite, una mera formalidad, un mero detalle. Ser: always ser. Register: formal, written. Note: mero used after the noun is archaic or dialectal.
Common mistake
Mero always precedes the noun (un mero trámite, not *un trámite mero). Placing it after the noun changes meaning or sounds archaic. This is a reliable B2 error to watch for in learner production.