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soltanto

only

adverb sol-TAHN-toh Common
Grammar & Structure Adverbs

Origin: From solo (alone) + tanto (so much); contracted emphatic form

Also means

just

Usage Note

Soltanto is an emphatic variant of solo and solamente, all meaning 'only/just'. All three are interchangeable in most contexts, but soltanto feels slightly more emphatic or precise — ho soltanto dieci euro (I have only ten euros). In speech, solo is more common; soltanto appears more in written or formal Italian.

Examples

"Ho soltanto cinque minuti liberi."

Natural Translation

I have only five free minutes.

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