sólo and solamente

Question

Hi everybody,

Could somebody please tell me if their is a difference between these two words as far as usage is concerned:

Solamente and sólo (note: not solo)

As far as I can tell, they both mean only, and I can't figure out any subtle differences between them (if any exists). Are the pretty much interchangeable or is one preferred over the other.

Along these same lines, is únicamente any different either?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Good question! - --Mariana--, Sep 29, 2009

I have just begun to learn Spanish; however, from what I can tell, -mente changes words into adverbs. In English ONLY is both ... an ONLY child; I ONLY fell. Perhaps they are different in Spanish ... but used as synonyms incorrectly. - lockers001, Sep 10, 2017

Answer 1

I thought sólo (with an accent) was the same as solamente which is an adverb that translates as "only" in English and is a short form of solamente.

solo (without an accent) is an adjective which means alone (and sometimes lonely) and has four forms (like any other Spanish adjective ending in “o”): solo, sola, solos, solas

Examples:

sólo / solamente (adverb-only)

1. Sólo / Solamente nos quedan dos dólares - We’ve only got two dollars left.
2. El vino sólo / solamente para quejarse - He only came to complain.
3. Si sólo / solamente quieres eso te lo daré - f you only want that then I’ll give it to you.
4. Sólo / Solamente me ha costado 5 dólare - It only cost 5 dollars / I only paid 5 dollars

solo/a/os/as (adjective-alone / lonely)

1. Vivo solo desde hace dos años - I’ve lived alone for two years.
2. Ella está sola en este momento - She’s alone at this moment
3. Mi mujer y yo nos sentimos solos en esta ciudad - My wife and I feel lonely in this city
4. A mis hijas no les gusta estar solas en la casa - My daughters don’t like to be alone at home

Thanks so much for your answer Ocbizlaw. So then sólo and solamente are "exactly" the same and not just synonyms? - Izanoni1, Sep 29, 2009

except when used as an adjective, then solamente cannot be substituted. - ocbizlaw, Sep 30, 2009

Thanks Ocbizlaw - Izanoni1, Oct 1, 2009

Answer 2

Thank you qfreed and woajiaorober for your help.

While I understand that they are synonyms, what I was actually concerned with was usage.

For example: In English the word big has several synonyms when referring to a significant size or scope of something: large, hefty, extensive, considerable, major, etc., but if I were describing an object such as a house, not all of these words would be equal, would they?

It was a large house.

It was a considerable house.

It was an extensive house.

It was a major house.

It was a hefty house.

I would venture to say that, although each of these words is listed as a synonym, that each of these would not be as useful in this context.

Along the lines of my own question, in English, the word only also has several synonyms listed.

As an adverb: alone, but, entirely, exclusively, solely, merely, simply

As an adjective: matchless, peerless, unequaled, unique, unmatched, umparagoned, unparalleled, unrivaled, alone, lone, singular, sole, solitary, etc.

As you can tell, just because they are listed as synonyms does not mean that they have equal usage or are as common. Referring back to the big example, I would venture to say that for the most part, the words big and large would be interchangeable in most instances; whereas, the others would only be to varying degrees (wouldn't you agree?).

If you would happen to be able to lend any insight into the actual usage and differences in usage (between solamente, sólo and únicamente) that you could share I would be very grateful.

My guess is that sólo and solamente would be similar to big/large in that they are, for most purposes, interchangeable and more common than the other two alternatives. I would just like to know if I am off base with this assumption.

I am new to Spanish; but maybe sólo = only (adjective) and sólomente = only (adverb) ... i.e. one word in English but two words in Spanish ... seems to happen a lot. - lockers001, Sep 10, 2017

Answer 3

I think sólo is just less formal and shorter and easier to say, I don't think it has a different gradation of meaning. If it does, my Mexican friends have been lying to me

Thanks for the input lorenzo - Izanoni1, Sep 29, 2009

Answer 4

Yo solamente quiero ir solo. Does that help? I think your spanish is good enough that this explanation should make it crystal clear!

Thanks Chamaco, but I was not concerned with the difference between "solo" and "solamente"(see original question), but between "sólo" and "solamente." If you can shed some light on that then I would be much obliged - Izanoni1, Sep 29, 2009

Answer 5

As far as I know sólo an solamente mean the same thing and there really is no difference in usage. Although I know for beginners it is easier to understand if they use solamente because solamente has a mente and in spanish words that end in LY in English end in mente in spanish. Just a thought hope it helped

Answer 6

I like unico more than sólo, I just think it sounds cooler, and will use it where I feel it fits okay over using sólo... sometimes there isn't one unique way to say something ... sometimes there isn't only one way to say something ... sometimes there's more than one way to say something... if it's understood it's understood, you can still add your own little bit of style to it, make the language your own

(sorry I know that's a completely unhelpful answer, it's gone midnight, I should probably go to bed)

On the contrary...your answer has been helpful and is appreciated. However, I am pretty sure that "único" and "solo" are synonymous (both adjectives) but are not exactly the same as "sólo/solamente" (used more as adverbs) - Izanoni1, Sep 29, 2009

Answer 7

solo2 o sólo.

1. adv. m. Únicamente, solamente.

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Answer 8

son palabras sinónimas

also: únicamente, exclusivamente