sólo

Sólo is a Spanish word with two main uses: as an adjective meaning "without company" or "in solitude" (as in solo) and as an adverb meaning "only" or "solely" (as in solamente). The accent mark on this word has historically been used to distinguish these two functions, but orthographic recommendations have evolved in recent decades.

Etymology and meanings: Sólo derives from Latin solus, meaning "alone" or "the only one." In contemporary Spanish, solo functions as an adjective when describing a noun or pronoun, as in un hombre solo (a man alone). As an adverb, it is used to express limitation or exclusivity, as in sólo quiero una manzana (I only want one apple).

Orthography and usage: The Real Academia Española (RAE) has treated the accent as optional to reduce ambiguity. Since the orthographic reform around 2010, the tilde in solo/sólo is not mandatory; it is used primarily when its absence would cause confusion. In practice, many writers now omit the accent in most contexts, while editors may reinstate it to avoid misreading, especially in ambiguous sentences such as Sólo quiero uno versus Quiero solo uno.

Synonyms and related terms: Common synonyms for the adverbial sense include solamente, solamente, únicamente, and únicamente. For the adjectival sense, synonyms include aislado or solitary in specific contexts, though not as direct substitutes.

See also: Spanish orthography, Real Academia Española, diacritic marks, accentuation in Spanish.