Inklingo
← Dictionary

solitario

/so-li-TA-rio/

solitary

A lone person sitting on a hillside, reading a book, surrounded by green grass and blue sky, illustrating a preference for being alone.

Being solitary ('solitario') means preferring to be alone, like this person enjoying a book by themselves.

solitario(Adjective)

mA2

solitary

?

Preferring to be alone

,

lonely

?

Feeling sad about being alone

Also:

secluded

?

Referring to a place

,

lone

?

Only one of its kind

📝 In Action

Mi gato es muy solitario y no le gustan otros animales.

A2

My cat is very solitary and doesn't like other animals.

Después de que se fueron todos, se sintió muy solitario.

B1

After everyone left, he felt very lonely.

Viven en una casa solitaria en la cima de la montaña.

B2

They live in a secluded house on the top of the mountain.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • aislado (isolated)
  • ermitaño (hermit (adjective))

Antonyms

  • sociable (sociable)
  • acompañado (accompanied)

Common Collocations

  • un lobo solitario – a lone wolf
  • vida solitaria – solitary life

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Like many Spanish descriptions, 'solitario' must change its ending to match the thing it describes. Use 'solitaria' for feminine things (like 'la casa solitaria') and 'solitarios' or 'solitarias' for plurals.

⭐ Usage Tips

Loneliness vs. Solitude

Solitario can mean both 'lonely' (sad) and 'solitary' (by choice). Context usually makes the meaning clear.

An elderly person with a long beard standing outside a small, rustic wooden cabin deep in a forest, emphasizing their isolation as a hermit.

As a noun, 'solitario' can mean a hermit, a person who chooses to live alone away from society.

solitario(Noun)

mB1

hermit

?

A person who lives alone

,

recluse

?

A person who avoids social contact

Also:

Solitaire

?

The card game

📝 In Action

El viejo solitario rara vez bajaba del monte.

B1

The old hermit rarely came down from the mountain.

Si no tienes con quién jugar, puedes jugar al solitario.

A2

If you don't have anyone to play with, you can play solitaire (the card game).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ermitaño (hermit)
  • recluso (recluse)

Common Collocations

  • jugar al solitario – to play solitaire

💡 Grammar Points

The Definite Article

When referring to the card game, you almost always use the article 'el': 'el solitario'.

A close-up view of an elegant silver ring featuring one large, brilliant-cut diamond mounted on a simple band.

'Solitario' also refers to a solitaire setting, where a single precious gem is the center of attention.

solitario(Noun)

mC1

solitaire

?

A single diamond or gem setting

Also:

single stone ring

?

Jewelry description

📝 In Action

Le propuso matrimonio con un anillo de solitario precioso.

C1

He proposed to her with a beautiful solitaire ring.

Word Connections

Synonyms

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

If you are in a jewelry store, 'solitario' means a single diamond. If you are at home, it probably means the card game.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: solitario

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish sentence uses 'solitario' as a noun referring to the card game?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'solitario' always negative, implying sadness or loneliness?

Not always! While it can mean 'lonely' (feeling sad), it often just means 'solitary' or 'secluded' (being alone by choice or location). Context is key to knowing if it implies sadness or just preference.

How do I say 'a lone wolf' in Spanish?

The common phrase is 'un lobo solitario.' This is a great example of 'solitario' being used as an adjective to describe an animal or person who acts independently.