solitaria
/so-lee-TAH-ryah/
lonely
A lonely bird sitting by itself, illustrating the feeling of being 'solitaria'.
solitaria(adjective)
lonely
?feeling sad because of being alone
,solitary
?preferring to be alone
secluded
?a place that is far away from others
,loner
?describing a person who keeps to themselves
📝 In Action
Ella es una mujer muy solitaria y casi nunca sale.
A2She is a very solitary woman and almost never goes out.
Caminaba por una calle solitaria en medio de la noche.
B1She was walking down a lonely street in the middle of the night.
Me siento un poco solitaria desde que te fuiste.
A2I feel a bit lonely since you left.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Gender
This form ends in 'a' because it describes feminine things or people. If you were describing a man, you would use 'solitario'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Solitaria vs. Sola
Mistake: "Using 'solitaria' when you just mean someone is by themselves."
Correction: Use 'sola' for the state of being alone (physical) and 'solitaria' for a personality trait or a deep feeling of loneliness.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Places
When you call a place 'solitaria', it doesn't mean the place is sad; it means it's empty or far from people.
The physical form of a 'solitaria', also known as a tapeworm.
📝 In Action
El médico le recetó medicamentos para eliminar la solitaria.
B2The doctor prescribed medicine to get rid of the tapeworm.
Tener la solitaria puede causar pérdida de peso.
B2Having a tapeworm can cause weight loss.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'La' is constant
Even though it refers to a parasite, the noun is always feminine ('la solitaria') regardless of the gender of the person who has it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Why is it called that?
It is called 'solitaria' (the solitary one) because traditionally people believed only one of these parasites could live in the body at a time.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: solitaria
Question 1 of 2
If you want to describe an empty, quiet beach using a feminine word, which would you use?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'solitaria' for a man?
No, if you are describing a man, you must change the ending to 'o' and say 'solitario'.
Is 'solitaria' always a bad thing?
Not necessarily. While it can mean 'lonely' (sad), it can also simply mean 'solitary' or 'quiet' (like a peaceful house or a person who enjoys their own company).