aprendí solo
/apɾendi solo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "i learned by myself" is expressed as aprendí solo.
This phrase is used to say that you acquired a skill or knowledge without a teacher or formal instruction.
Which one should you use?
While aprendí solo can mean 'I learned by myself' (autodidact), it can also literally mean 'I learned while I was alone' (without other people present). The phrase aprendí por mi cuenta is a common alternative to 'solo' that emphasizes the lack of external help or guidance. To describe yourself as a self-taught person rather than just the act of learning, use the phrase soy autodidacta.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the speaker is female, the adjective must change to the feminine form aprendí sola.
How do you pronounce it?
/apɾendi solo/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish dialects, using por mi cuenta can also imply that you paid for the lessons yourself, adding a financial layer to the idea of learning independently.
- The word autodidacta is a 'gender-invariant' adjective in some contexts, meaning it can be used for both men and women without changing its ending to 'a' or 'o'.
- In Spanish, the concept of learning 'on one's own' is often expressed as por mi cuenta, which literally translates to 'by my account'.
Examples in context
- He aprendido por mí mismo/a. Durante los últimos dos años, me he dedicado a estudiar español de manera autónoma utilizando diferentes recursos en línea y libros de gramática.I have learned by myself. Over the past two years, I have dedicated myself to studying Spanish autonomously, using various online resources and grammar books.
- Aprendí por mi cuenta. Me encantaba el español y comencé a ver películas, escuchar música y a practicar con aplicaciones de aprendizaje. Después de mucho esfuerzo y práctica, logré hablarlo fluidamente.I learned on my own. I loved Spanish and started watching movies, listening to music, and practicing with learning apps. After much effort and practice, I managed to speak it fluently.
- No fui a la escuela, aprendí solo.I didn't go to school, I learned by myself.
- Aprendí solo a tocar la guitarra.I learned to play the guitar by myself.
- Es un idioma difícil, pero aprendí solo.It is a difficult language, but I learned by myself.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are talking about their language skills.
- DanielHablo un poco de francés.I speak a little bit of French.
- Sofía¡Qué bien! ¿Fuiste a una escuela?That's great! Did you go to a school?
- DanielNo, aprendí solo con aplicaciones.No, I learned by myself with apps.
- SofíaEres muy dedicado, Daniel.You are very dedicated, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
