Spanish Phrase
Solo una ensalada.
Meaning
The speaker is saying that they want only a salad—no other dishes, sides, or drinks. It’s a concise way to keep the order simple and clear.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are ordering at a restaurant, café, or food stall and you want a single salad and nothing else. It’s also handy when describing a very light meal you’re having.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Solounaensalada
Solo (adverb)
Used as an adverb meaning 'only' or 'just' before a noun or verb to limit the quantity.
una (indefinite article)
Feminine singular indefinite article that matches the gender and number of the noun that follows.
ensalada (noun)
A feminine singular noun meaning 'salad'.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué quiere pedir?
What would you like to order?
Solo una ensalada.
Just a salad.
✕Common Mistakes
Sólo una ensalada.
The accent on "sólo" is optional; learners often add it unnecessarily. Modern Spanish accepts "solo" without an accent.
Solo un ensalada.
Using the masculine article "un" with the feminine noun "ensalada" is incorrect.
Una solo ensalada.
The adjective order is wrong; "solo" must precede the noun phrase, not follow the article.
↔Alternatives
Sólo una ensalada, por favor.
Just a salad, please.
Solo una ensalada, nada más.
Just a salad, nothing else.
Una sola ensalada.
Only one salad.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries a salad is often seen as a starter or a light main dish. Waitstaff may ask if you’d like protein (e.g., chicken or tuna) added. Historically, "solo" meaning "only" was written with an accent (sólo), but the Royal Spanish Academy now recommends dropping the accent unless ambiguity arises.