Solo, solamente, and solo the adjective

Erklärung

Solo plays two roles. As an adverb it means 'only' and is interchangeable with solamente: solo quiero agua = solamente quiero agua. As an adjective (solo/sola/solos/solas) it means 'alone' and agrees with the noun: vive sola, estaban solos.

Since the 2010 spelling reform, the adverb 'only' is written without an accent — solo, not sólo. In rare, genuinely ambiguous cases the RAE still permits the accent, but the modern default is accent-free throughout.

Ambiguity is rarer than it seems, because context decides: trabaja solo could be 'works alone' or 'only works', but the situation almost always makes it clear. Near-synonyms of 'only' include únicamente and, very colloquially in Latin America, nomás (pasá nomás, 'just come in'). A solas means 'in private': hablemos a solas.

Beispiele

Verwandte Regeln

• Diacritical tildes: tú/tu, él/el, sí/si