The Spanish words solo, incluso and ni siquiera have the ability to add layers of meaning and affect the context in which they are used. These words hold significance and can shape the overall message being conveyed. That’s why, in this article, we’ll delve into the differences between solo, incluso and ni siquiera. By the end, you’ll know when and how to use each of these words correctly.

Solo, Incluso and Ni siquiera

In this article, we will explore the nuances between the Spanish words solo, incluso and ni siquiera. We will provide examples and explanations to help you grasp their usage and master their application for effective communication in Spanish.

Solo (only, just)

Solo has two main meanings. The first one is only or just. It is an adverb that can be used interchangeably with solamente.

Solo Olivia sabe preparar el café como a mí me gusta.

Only Olivia knows how to prepare coffee as I like it.

Para la cena quiero solo verdura.

For dinner, I just want vegetables.

Entonces, ¿solo tú le pediste perdón?

So you were the only one who apologized?

Tener solo un amigo es mejor que tener muchos malos.

Having only one friend is better than having lots of bad ones.

Solo (alone, lonely)

The second meaning is alone or lonely. Solo meaning alone or lonely is an adjective, so you need to change it to agree in gender and number with the noun it refers to.

Compare how solo (adverb) and solo (adjective) are used together in the following sentences.

Vamos, Enrique. Solo estaré en Panamá unas semanas. Sabes que no estás solo.

Come on, Enrique. I’ll be in Panama for a few weeks only. You know that you’re not alone.

Solo quiero que estés conmigo, porque me siento sola.

I only want you to be with me because I feel lonely.

Cuando Fernando y Pedro están solos, solo comen verdura y pescado.

When Fernando and Pedro are alone, they only eat vegetables and fish.

Verónica y Elisa quieren comer solo lo que les gusta, pero no están solas. Hay más gente en el grupo.

Verónica and Elisa want to eat only what they like, but they’re not alone. There are more people in the group.

Incluso (even)

Incluso means even and it adds additional emphasis, force, or meaning to a statement. It may introduce an unexpected element into a situation.

Voy a la escuela todos los días, incluso cuando hace mal tiempo.

I go to school everyday, even when the weather is bad.

Todo en exceso es malo, incluso la fruta.

Too much of anything is bad, even when it comes to fruit.

Incluso Pablo ganó dinero en el casino.

Even Pablo won money at the casino.

Siempre se van de vacaciones, incluso cuando no tienen dinero.

They always go on vacation, even when they don’t have money.

Ni siquiera (not even)

Incluso and ni siquiera are usually confused with each other. Ni siquiera means not even, so it implies a negation.

You can say no + verb + ni siquiera. However, if you used it before the main verb, then you would not need to add no. You would simply say ni siquiera + verb.

Ni siquiera los ecologistas saben cuántas especies animales hay ya extintas.

Not even the environmentalists know how many extinct animal species there are.

Los ecologistas no saben ni siquiera cuántas especies animales hay ya extintas.

The environmentalists don’t even know how many extinct animal species there are.

No compré nada en las rebajas, ni siquiera los zapatos que me habían gustado.

I didn’t buy anything during the sale, not even the shoes I liked.

Ni siquiera Ximena, la más inteligente de la clase, aprobó el examen.

Not even Ximena, the smartest in the class, passed the exam.

¡No lo tires ahí! ¿No ves que ni siquiera es reciclable?

Don’t throw it away there! Can’t you see that it’s not even recyclable?

Exercises

In our blog, you can review more linkers or connectors. Now let’s do some exercises to practice solo, incluso and ni siquiera.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

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Linkers and Connectors