solo
“solo” means “alone” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
alone
Also: lonely, single
📝 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.
only, just
📝 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.
solo
📝 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.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: solo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'She only wants to travel alone'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'solus', which means 'alone' or 'single'. The different uses in Spanish all grew from this one idea of being one or by oneself.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.