diff --git a/doc/help/commands.asciidoc b/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
index c54c4e04b..e69e7da14 100644
--- a/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
@@ -841,13 +841,13 @@ How many tabs to switch forward.
 
 [[tab-only]]
 === tab-only
-Syntax: +:tab-only [*--left*] [*--right*]+
+Syntax: +:tab-only [*--prev*] [*--next*]+
 
 Close all tabs except for the current one.
 
 ==== optional arguments
-* +*-l*+, +*--left*+: Keep tabs to the left of the current.
-* +*-r*+, +*--right*+: Keep tabs to the right of the current.
+* +*-p*+, +*--prev*+: Keep tabs before the current.
+* +*-n*+, +*--next*+: Keep tabs after the current.
 
 [[tab-prev]]
 === tab-prev
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
index 87885d4cc..8ea978496 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
@@ -801,20 +801,20 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
         message.info("Zoom level: {}%".format(level))
 
     @cmdutils.register(instance='command-dispatcher', scope='window')
-    def tab_only(self, left=False, right=False):
+    def tab_only(self, prev=False, next_=False):
         """Close all tabs except for the current one.
 
         Args:
-            left: Keep tabs to the left of the current.
-            right: Keep tabs to the right of the current.
+            prev: Keep tabs before the current.
+            next_: Keep tabs after the current.
         """
-        cmdutils.check_exclusive((left, right), 'lr')
+        cmdutils.check_exclusive((prev, next_), 'pn')
         cur_idx = self._tabbed_browser.currentIndex()
         assert cur_idx != -1
 
         for i, tab in enumerate(self._tabbed_browser.widgets()):
-            if (i == cur_idx or (left and i < cur_idx) or
-                    (right and i > cur_idx)):
+            if (i == cur_idx or (prev and i < cur_idx) or
+                    (next_ and i > cur_idx)):
                 continue
             else:
                 self._tabbed_browser.close_tab(tab)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
index a8c5fed88..64bef47b1 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
@@ -1786,4 +1786,9 @@ CHANGED_KEY_COMMANDS = [
     (re.compile(r'^tab-close --left$'), r'tab-close --prev'),
     (re.compile(r'^tab-close -r$'), r'tab-close --next'),
     (re.compile(r'^tab-close --right$'), r'tab-close --next'),
+
+    (re.compile(r'^tab-only -l$'), r'tab-only --prev'),
+    (re.compile(r'^tab-only --left$'), r'tab-only --prev'),
+    (re.compile(r'^tab-only -r$'), r'tab-only --next'),
+    (re.compile(r'^tab-only --right$'), r'tab-only --next'),
 ]
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/tabs.feature b/tests/end2end/features/tabs.feature
index de8742579..76dd9ddfd 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/tabs.feature
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/tabs.feature
@@ -143,29 +143,29 @@ Feature: Tab management
         Then the following tabs should be open:
             - data/numbers/3.txt (active)
 
-    Scenario: :tab-only with --left
+    Scenario: :tab-only with --prev
         When I open data/numbers/1.txt
         And I open data/numbers/2.txt in a new tab
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
-        And I run :tab-only --left
+        And I run :tab-only --prev
         Then the following tabs should be open:
             - data/numbers/1.txt
             - data/numbers/2.txt (active)
 
-    Scenario: :tab-only with --right
+    Scenario: :tab-only with --next
         When I open data/numbers/1.txt
         And I open data/numbers/2.txt in a new tab
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
-        And I run :tab-only --right
+        And I run :tab-only --next
         Then the following tabs should be open:
             - data/numbers/2.txt (active)
             - data/numbers/3.txt
 
-    Scenario: :tab-only with --left and --right
-        When I run :tab-only --left --right
-        Then the error "Only one of -l/-r can be given!" should be shown
+    Scenario: :tab-only with --prev and --next
+        When I run :tab-only --prev --next
+        Then the error "Only one of -p/-n can be given!" should be shown
 
     # :tab-focus