soolo

Soolo is a term found in several languages, used to designate a performance or portion performed by a single artist. The word derives from the idea of being “alone” or “one,” with its form reflecting phonology in languages such as Finnish.

In musical usage, soolo commonly refers to a solo piece or a section featuring one performer. In Finnish, for example, soolo can denote a guitar solo, a vocal solo, or any performance where a single musician is highlighted. The term is used across genres including classical, jazz, rock, and traditional music, and it is often paired with descriptors like kiitarasoolo (guitar solo) or laulusoolo (vocal solo).

Beyond strictly musical contexts, soolo can describe any one-person performance or showcase, such as a dancer’s solo or a theatrical moment focusing on a single performer. In such cases, the sense is broader and the term may appear in instructional or descriptive language rather than formal music theory.

Soolo may also appear as a surname, brand name, or localized place-name in some languages, though such uses are not widely documented internationally. In general, the most common and widely understood meaning of soolo remains its reference to a solitary performance by one performer within a larger work or program.