solo
/SO-lo/
Like this person on the bench, 'solo' describes someone or something that is alone or by itself.
solo (Adjective)
📝 In Action
Mi hermano vive solo en un apartamento pequeño.
A1My brother lives alone in a small apartment.
A veces me siento un poco sola por las noches.
A2Sometimes I feel a little lonely at night.
Quiero un café solo, sin leche ni azúcar.
A2I want a single coffee (a black coffee), without milk or sugar.
💡 Grammar Points
A Word with Four Forms
This 'solo' is a describing word, so it must match the person or thing it's describing. It can change to 'sola' (for feminine things), 'solos' (for plural masculine things), or 'solas' (for plural feminine things).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting to Match
Mistake: "La mujer está solo."
Correction: La mujer está sola. Because 'mujer' is feminine, the describing word needs to end in '-a'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Alone vs. Lonely
Just like in English, 'estar solo/a' can mean you are physically alone, while 'sentirse solo/a' means you feel the negative emotion of loneliness. The context usually makes it clear.
This 'solo' means 'only' or 'just'. Here, there is 'solo un café' (only one coffee) on the table.
solo (Adverb)
📝 In Action
Solo hablo un poco de español.
A2I only speak a little bit of Spanish.
Tenemos solo diez minutos antes de que empiece la película.
A2We have just ten minutes before the movie starts.
No te preocupes, es solo una pregunta.
B1Don't worry, it's just a question.
💡 Grammar Points
The Form That Never Changes
When 'solo' means 'only', it's an adverb. That's a fancy way of saying it never changes its ending. It's always 'solo', no matter what else is in the sentence.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'sola' for 'only'
Mistake: "Sola quiero agua."
Correction: Solo quiero agua. When you mean 'only', the word is always 'solo', even if you're female.
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement in a Sentence
To say 'only', 'solo' usually goes right before the thing you're limiting. 'Solo quiero café' (I only want coffee). 'Quiero solo café' (I want only coffee). Both work and mean the same thing.
In music, a 'solo' is a part where one person plays or sings alone, like this guitarist.
solo (Noun)
📝 In Action
El guitarrista tocó un solo increíble en el concierto.
B1The guitarist played an incredible solo at the concert.
La canción tiene un largo solo de piano en el medio.
B1The song has a long piano solo in the middle.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
When talking about a musical solo, the word is a noun and is always masculine. You say 'el solo' or 'un solo'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: solo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'She only wants to travel alone'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I write 'solo' or 'sólo'? I've seen it with an accent.
Great question! Years ago, people wrote 'sólo' with an accent when it meant 'only' to tell it apart from 'solo' (alone). However, the official rule from the Real Academia Española (the main authority on Spanish) is that you no longer need the accent. Just write 'solo' for both meanings. You might still see the accent in older texts or from some writers who prefer it, but it's not considered necessary anymore.
What's the difference between 'solo' and 'solamente'?
When they mean 'only', there is no difference in meaning! You can use them interchangeably. 'Solo' is much more common in everyday conversation, while 'solamente' can sound a little more formal or emphatic. Think of it like 'only' vs. 'solely' in English.