única

Única is the feminine singular form of the adjectives único in Spanish and Portuguese, used to indicate that something is the only one or one of a kind. It agrees with the noun in gender and number, and its sense can range from “the sole” to “unique” depending on context. In Spanish, common examples are “ella es la única persona que sabe la verdad” and “es la única solución.” In Portuguese, you might hear “ela é a única pessoa que sabe” or “é a única saída.”

Grammatical notes: In both languages, the adjective can appear before or after the noun, with placement sometimes affecting emphasis. For example, “una única oportunidad” foregrounds exclusivity, while “una oportunidad única” states a quality of the opportunity.

Etymology and morphology: Única derives from the Latin unus, meaning “one.” The feminine form carries the suffix -a, and the accent on ú marks the stressed syllable in both Spanish and Portuguese orthography.

Forms and related terms: Other forms include único (masculine singular), únicos (masculine plural), and únicas (feminine plural). Related words include únicamente (adverb meaning “only, solely”) and the masculine counterpart único.

See also: único, únicamente.