solamente
so-la-MEN-teh
📝 In Action
Solamente necesito cinco minutos para terminar.
A1I only need five minutes to finish.
Ella solamente habla de su trabajo y nada más.
A2She only talks about her job and nothing else.
Para resolver este problema, solamente se requiere paciencia.
B1To solve this problem, only patience is required.
💡 Grammar Points
The Meaning of -mente
Solamente ends in '-mente,' which is the Spanish equivalent of the English '-ly.' It tells you how something is done or modifies the whole sentence, giving it a restrictive meaning.
Interchangeable with Solo
When solo is used as an adverb meaning 'only,' it is completely interchangeable with solamente. Solamente is often considered slightly more formal or emphatic.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Placement Error
Mistake: "No quiero solamente comer."
Correction: Solamente quiero comer. (It usually sounds most natural when placed before the verb it modifies or at the beginning of the sentence.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Emphasizing Restriction
Use solamente when you want to strongly emphasize the limit or restriction, especially in writing or formal speech, or when you are contrasting it with something else.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: solamente
Question 1 of 2
Which word is the closest, most direct synonym for 'solamente'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'solamente' more common than 'solo' when meaning 'only'?
Generally, *solo* is slightly more common in everyday spoken Spanish for the meaning 'only.' However, *solamente* is frequently used in both speech and writing and carries a slightly more formal feel.
Does 'solamente' ever mean 'lonely'?
No. *Solamente* is an adverb that means 'only' or 'just.' The adjective that means 'alone' is *solo*, and the feeling of 'loneliness' is the noun *soledad*.