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How to Say "lonely" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “lonely” is “solo” — use 'solo' when you want to say someone is 'alone' and possibly feeling sad about it, or just to state their living situation.

English → Spanish

solo

SO-loˈso.lo

adjectiveA1general
Use 'solo' when you want to say someone is 'alone' and possibly feeling sad about it, or just to state their living situation.
A single person sitting by themselves on a bench, representing the state of being alone.

Examples

Mi hermano vive solo en un apartamento pequeño.

My brother lives alone in a small apartment.

A veces me siento un poco sola por las noches.

Sometimes I feel a little lonely at night.

Quiero un café solo, sin leche ni azúcar.

I want a single coffee (a black coffee), without milk or sugar.

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).

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'.

solitario

so-li-TA-riosoliˈtaɾjo

adjectiveA2general
Choose 'solitario' when describing someone or something (like an animal) that prefers to be alone or seems sad because they are alone.
A lone person sitting on a hillside, reading a book, surrounded by green grass and blue sky, illustrating a preference for being alone.

Examples

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

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

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

After everyone left, he felt very lonely.

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

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

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.

solito

so-LEE-tohsoˈlito

adjectiveA2informal
Use 'solito' to express a feeling of sympathy for someone who is alone, often a child, emphasizing their vulnerability.
A small, lonely puppy sitting in the middle of a large empty field under a single tree.

Examples

El niño se quedó solito en la casa.

The little boy stayed all alone in the house.

Lo terminé yo solito, sin ayuda de nadie.

I finished it all by myself, without anyone's help.

Pobrecito, está ahí solito en el frío.

Poor thing, he's there all by himself in the cold.

The Power of '-ito'

By adding '-ito' to the word 'solo,' you make it sound more emotional. It can mean 'sadly alone' or 'proudly all by myself.'

Matching the Gender

Because this describes a person or thing, it must match them. Use 'solito' for a boy or a masculine object, and 'solita' for a girl or a feminine object.

Using it in Formal Writing

Mistake: “Using 'solito' in a legal document or formal essay.”

Correction: Use 'solo' in formal situations. 'Solito' is for friends, family, and casual stories.

aislado

eye-SLAH-dohai̯sˈlaðo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'aislado' when you mean 'isolated' in a physical or social sense, like being cut off from contact with others due to circumstances.
A single small island with one palm tree in the middle of a vast blue ocean.

Examples

El pueblo quedó aislado después de la gran nevada.

The town was isolated after the heavy snowfall.

Me siento un poco aislado en mi nuevo trabajo.

I feel a bit isolated at my new job.

Matching Gender

Remember that this word ends in '-o' because it describes a masculine person or thing. If you describe a woman or a feminine thing (like 'una casa'), change it to 'aislada'.

Using with 'Estar'

We usually use this word with the verb 'estar' (to be) because being isolated is often seen as a temporary state or condition.

Isolated vs. Only

Mistake: “Using 'solo' when you mean 'aislado'.”

Correction: Use 'solo' to mean someone is alone by choice or circumstance, but use 'aislado' when someone is physically cut off or separated from everything else.

Solo vs. Solitario

Learners often confuse 'solo' and 'solitario' because both can imply being alone and potentially sad. Remember: 'solo' is the most general term for being alone, while 'solitario' often suggests a preference for solitude or a more melancholic state of being alone.

Related Translations

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