solo [ˈsəʊləʊ]
solo
noun1. (music)
2. (card games)
adverb3. (done alone)
adjectivea. a solas
Climbing solo is a form of meditation for Cesar.Escalar a solas es una forma de meditación para César.
b. solo
Though working at a big law firm had its perks, Saul decided he wanted to do it solo.Aunque trabajar en un bufete de abogados grande tenía sus ventajas, Saúl decidió que quería trabajar solo.
c. en solitario
Brad had been logging a lot of flight time, and now he was ready to fly solo.Brad había estado registrando mucho tiempo de vuelo y ya estaba listo para volar en solitario.
4. (music)
Betsy performed a beautiful solo cello piece by Bach at the talent show.Betsy interpretó una hermosa pieza para violonchelo en solo de Bach en el concurso de talentos.
After the stifling dynamic of the band, the singer's solo debut unleashed an explosion of creativity.Después de la dinámica sofocante de la banda, el debut en solitario del cantante desencadenó una explosión de creatividad.
5. (aviation)
intransitive verba. en solitario
In those days, a solo flight that long was considered a very dangerous adventure.En aquel entonces, un vuelo en solitario así de largo se consideraba una aventura muy peligrosa.
6. (music)
Last night, Chris soloed on the drums and impressed the crowd.Anoche Chris tocó un solo en la batería e impresionó al público.
Usage note
The adverb "solo" becomes "sólo" when there is the possibility of confusing it with the adjective "solo." As an example, "Tomé un café solo" can be translated as "I drank a black coffee" or "I only drank a coffee." "Tomé un café sólo" can only be translated as "I only drank a coffee."
solo(
adjectivesoh
-
loh
)1. (unaccompanied)
Me da miedo estar solo en la oscuridad.It scares me to be alone in the dark.
b. on one's own
¿Prefieres ver películas sola, o con amigos?Do you prefer to watch movies on your own, or with friends?
c. by itself
Quiero la hamburguesa sola, sin pan.I want the burger by itself, without a bun.
2. (lonesome)
a. lonely
Me sentía muy sola cuando llegué a Tokio por primera vez.I felt very lonely when I arrived in Tokyo for the first time.
3. (singular)
adverba. single
Este cuarto tiene un solo clóset, pero tenemos mucha ropa.This room has a single closet, but we have a lot of clothes.
5. (simply)
masculine nounsolo
adjective1. (sin nadie)
a. alone
me gusta estar soloI like being alone o on my own o by myself
¿vives solo?do you live alone o on your own o by yourself?
lo hice yo soloI did it on my own o by myself
2. (fam fig)
a. no direct translation
estar más solo que la unato be all on one's own
a solasalone, by oneself
3. (solitario)
a. lonely
sentirse soloto feel lonely
4. (sin nada más)
a. on its own
5. (café)
a. black
6. (whisky)
a. neat
7. (único)
a. single
no me han comprado ni un solo regalothey didn't buy me a single present
ni una sola gotanot a (single) drop
dame una sola razóngive me one reason
8. (mero, simple)
Nouna. very, mere
la sola idea de suspender me deprimethe very o mere idea of failing depresses me
9. (music)
a. solo
solo
adjective
1 (sin compañía) alone; on one's own
pasa los días solo en su cuarto he spends the days alone o on his own in his room; iré solo I'll go alone o on my own; dejar solo a algn to leave sb alone; me quedé solo I was left alone; habla solo he talks to himself; se quedó solo a los siete años he was left an orphan o alone in the world at seven
estar más solo que la una to be all on one's own
es tonto como él solo he's as stupid as they come
lo hace como él solo he does it as no one else can
se queda solo contando mentiras he's as good a liar as you'll find
más vale estar solo que mal acompañado it's better to be on your own than in bad company
3 (único)
su sola preocupación es ganar dinero his one o only concern is to make money; con esta sola condición on this one condition; hay una sola dificultad there is only o just one problem; no hubo ni una sola objeción there was not a single objection
solo
sólo
adverb
(únicamente) only; (exclusivamente) solely; merely; just solo quiero verlo I only o just want to see it; es solo un teniente he's only a lieutenant; he's a mere lieutenant; no solo A sino también B not only A but also B; solo con apretar un botón at the touch of a button; me parece bien solo que no tengo tiempo that's fine, only o but I don't have the time; ven aunque solo sea para media hora come even if it's just for half an hour; con solo que sepas tocar algunas notas even if you only know how to play a few notes; solo con que estudies dos horas diarias by studying for as little as two hours a day; tan solo only; just; solo que ... except that ...; viajará sólo un par de días he'll only be away for a couple of days
In the past the standard spelling for this adverb was with an accent ([sólo]). Nowadays the [Real Academia Española] advises that the accented form is only required where there might otherwise be confusion with the adjective [solo].
Phrases with "solo"
Here are the most popular phrases with "solo." Click the phrases to see the full entry.
Examples
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