sola
“sola” means “alone” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
alone
Also: lonely, on her own
📝 In Action
Mi hermana vive sola en Madrid.
A1My sister lives alone in Madrid.
Prefiero ver la película sola.
A2I prefer to watch the movie alone.
Se sintió muy sola durante su primer mes en la nueva ciudad.
B1She felt very lonely during her first month in the new city.
single
Also: only, one
📝 In Action
Queda una sola galleta en el paquete.
A2There is a single cookie left in the package.
No he leído ni una sola página del libro.
B1I haven't read a single page of the book.
La sola idea de hablar en público me aterra.
B2The mere idea of speaking in public terrifies me.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "sola" in Spanish:
one→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sola
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'I want one single piece of cake'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
`sola` comes directly from the Latin word `sōla`, which is the feminine form of `sōlus`, meaning 'alone, sole, single'. It has kept its original meaning almost perfectly over thousands of years.
First recorded: Before the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between `sola`, `solo`, `solas`, and `solos`?
They all mean 'alone' or 'single', but they change to match the person or thing they describe. Use `sola` for one feminine thing (la chica), `solo` for one masculine thing (el chico), `solas` for multiple feminine things (las chicas), and `solos` for multiple masculine things (los chicos).
When do I use `sola` vs `única`?
They're very similar! Use `sola` when you want to emphasize 'just one' out of a possible many ('una sola galleta' - one single cookie). Use `única` when you mean 'one of a kind' or 'unique' ('mi única hermana' - my only sister).