solo
/sɔ.lo/masculine
The French word for solo is solo.
solo is a masculine noun referring to a job or performance done by one person.
Meaning: job or performance done by one person (noun)
Which one should you use?
While solo refers to a performance or task done by one person, solitaire is used to describe a person or animal that lives or acts alone.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a masculine noun, solo is preceded by the masculine indefinite article un to form un solo.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /sɔ.lo/.
Did you know?
- The word solitaire is also used in French to describe a single diamond set alone in a ring, a meaning that solo cannot fulfill.
- Although solo is a masculine noun, it is actually a loanword from Italian. It entered the French language through the world of music and art, rather than being a native French word.
- In French aviation and sports, the term en solo is frequently used to describe a flight or a race completed without a teammate or co-pilot.
Examples in context
- Le concert débuta par un solo de piano.The concert began with a piano solo.The sentence is useful for showing how to describe a concert beginning with a piano solo using solo.Tatoeba #823151 by sacredceltic, translation #25909 by CK
- Tom joue en général au moins un solo de batterie chaque fois que son groupe donne un concert.Tom usually plays a drum solo at least once every time his band gives a concert.The sentence is useful for illustrating a drummer playing a drum solo using solo.Tatoeba #5489838 by Aiji, translation #2050712 by CK
- Elle aime voyager seule.She likes to travel alone.
- Il préfère l'indépendance : il travaille seul.He prefers independence: he works alone.
- Elle préfère passer ses soirées en solitaire.She prefers spending her evenings alone.
- Il est parti faire une randonnée en solitaire.He went hiking alone.
- Je vais prendre mon petit déjeuner tout seul ce matin.I'm going to have breakfast alone this morning.
- Elle a décidé de sortir toute seule pour s'amuser.She decided to go out alone to have fun.
- Il a joué une chanson en solo.He played a song solo.
- Elle a préparé un solo de danse magnifique.She prepared a magnificent dance solo.
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are talking about a music festival.
- LucasEst-ce que tu vas faire un solo de guitare ?Are you going to do a guitar solo?
- ManonNon, je préfère jouer avec le groupe.No, I prefer playing with the group.
- LucasMais ton solo serait très impressionnant.But your solo would be very impressive.
- ManonMerci, c'est gentil de dire ça, Lucas.Thanks, that is kind of you to say, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “solo” translations and entries solo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries solo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
