solo
/ˈso.lo/
In Italian, the phrase 'alone' is translated as solo. Wiktionary also lists da solo.
Meaning: by oneself (adj)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| solo | /ˈso.lo/ |
| da solo | /da ˈso.lo/ (word by word) |
The term is used to describe being by oneself.
Which one should you use?
While solo can mean 'alone', the prepositional phrase da solo is more common when emphasizing the lack of company or doing something without help.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈso.lo/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the two meanings of solo. In Italian, solo can mean both 'alone' (adjective) and 'only' (adverb), but the context determines the meaning.
Did you know?
- In Italian music notation, the term solo is used globally to indicate a part for a single performer, a direct legacy of Italian dominance in classical music theory.
- The word solo shares its roots with the English word 'solitary' and the concept of a 'soliloquy', both of which stem from the same Latin origin.
- Using solo to mean 'only' is extremely common, but in some regional Italian dialects, people might use different particles to express 'only', making the 'alone' meaning more distinct in those areas.
Examples in context
- Tom è da solo.Tom's alone.This sentence uses da solo to show that Tom is by himself.Tatoeba #2190419 by Guybrush88, translation #2107446 by CK
- Non è da solo.He isn't alone.This sentence uses da solo to show that someone is not without company.Tatoeba #8501696 by Guybrush88, translation #8477827 by CH
- Era là da solo.He was alone there.This sentence uses da solo to indicate someone was alone in a specific location.Tatoeba #626429 by Guybrush88, translation #290430 by CM
- Durante la mia vacanza, ho sempre preferito stare da solo/a.During my vacation, I always preferred to be alone.
- Sono una persona solitaria, mi piace il silenzio e la tranquillità.I am a solitary person, I enjoy silence and tranquility.
- Ho trascorso la serata in solitudine, leggendo un buon libro.I spent the evening alone, reading a good book.
- Sono uscito con i miei amici, ma alla fine mi sono trovato da solo/a perché erano occupati.I went out with my friends, but in the end, I found myself alone because they were busy.
- Stamattina mi sono svegliato/a e mi sono ritrovato/a tutto solo/a in casa.This morning, I woke up and found myself all alone at home.
- Sono andato in montagna da solo/a perché avevo bisogno di respirare aria fresca.I went to the mountains alone because I needed to breathe fresh air.
- 1235 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are talking on the phone about a party.
- GiuliaSei solo alla festa, Matteo?Are you alone at the party, Matteo?
- MatteoNo, non sono solo.No, I am not alone.
- GiuliaC'è molta gente con te?Is there a lot of people with you?
- MatteoSì, sono in compagnia di molti amici.Yes, I am in the company of many friends.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alone” translations and entries solo, da solo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (da, solo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries da, da solo, solo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
