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única

OO-nee-kahˈunika

“única” means “only” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

only

Also: sole
A single, brightly colored butterfly flying alone in a vast, empty green field.

📝 In Action

Es la única persona que habla japonés.

A2

She is the only person who speaks Japanese.

Mi única opción es esperar.

B1

My only option is to wait.

Ella fue la única testigo del accidente.

B2

She was the sole witness to the accident.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • sola (alone, single)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • la única vez – the only time
  • la única manera – the only way
  • la única cosa – the only thing

unique

Also: unparalleled
A collection of ordinary gray stones surrounding one glowing, perfectly smooth, iridescent blue stone.

📝 In Action

Esta es una oportunidad única en la vida.

B1

This is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Su voz tiene una calidad única.

B2

Her voice has a unique quality.

La arquitectura de Gaudí es verdaderamente única.

C1

Gaudí's architecture is truly unique.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • común (common)
  • ordinaria (ordinary)

Common Collocations

  • una experiencia única – a unique experience
  • una belleza única – a unique beauty

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: única

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence best translates to 'This is a unique experience' (meaning it's special)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
único(unique, only (masculine)) — Adjective
únicamente(only, solely) — Adverb
unidad(unity, unit) — Noun
unir(to unite) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
músicapúblicatúnica
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'unicus', which also meant 'one and only' or 'sole'. It's related to 'unus', the Latin word for 'one'.

First recorded: Around the 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: unicaFrench: uniqueEnglish: unique

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'única' and 'sola'?

'Única' means 'the only one' of a group (la única persona) or 'unique/special' (una experiencia única). 'Sola' means 'alone' or 'by oneself' (Ella está sola).

Why does 'única' sometimes go before the noun and sometimes after?

Great question! Its position changes the emphasis. Before the noun ('la única casa'), it almost always means 'the only one'. After the noun ('una casa única'), it often highlights that the house is 'unique and special'.