sólo
“sólo” means “only” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
only
Also: just
📝 In Action
Sólo quiero un café.
A1I only want one coffee.
Hablo sólo un poco de español.
A1I speak just a little Spanish.
Esto es sólo el comienzo.
B1This is only the beginning.
alone
Also: lonely, single
📝 In Action
Mi hermano vive solo.
A2My brother lives alone.
Ella se siente muy sola a veces.
B1She feels very lonely sometimes.
Prefiero un café solo, sin leche.
A2I prefer a black coffee (literally: a coffee alone), without milk.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sólo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly means 'She wants to travel alone'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'sōlus', which means 'alone' or 'sole'. Both the 'alone' and 'only' meanings grew from this single root.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the accent on 'sólo' when I mean 'only'?
No, you don't have to. Since 2010, the official guideline from the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) is that 'solo' (without the accent) can be used for both 'only' and 'alone'. However, many people still add the accent ('sólo') to mean 'only' just to be perfectly clear and avoid any confusion. It's good to recognize both.
What's the difference between 'sólo' and 'solamente'?
They mean the exact same thing ('only') and you can almost always use them interchangeably. 'Solamente' is a bit longer and can sometimes feel a tiny bit more formal, but in everyday conversation, they are perfect substitutes for each other.