Spanish word

soltería

Pronunciation

IPA/solteˈɾia/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbeing single

Example

Prefiero la soltería a casarme ahora.

I prefer being single to getting married now.

Illustration for soltería (being single)

More examples

Vivir en soltería le permitió conocer a mucha gente.

Living as a single person allowed them to meet many people.

Core concept

Life without a spouse.

Common phrases

  • vivir en soltería

    living as a single person

  • soltería elegida

    voluntary singlehood

Similar words

soltero: Individual who is not married.
vida de soltero: Lifestyle and daily routine of a person living without a spouse.
estado civil: Official civil status indicating a person's marriage situation.

Definition in Spanish

Situación personal de quien no ha contraído matrimonio o que vive sin cónyuge.

Word origin

Derived from soltero 'single' plus the abstract noun suffix -ía, with soltero ultimately from Latin solitarius (from solus 'alone'), so the word names the state of not having a spouse.

Usage tips

  • In Spanish soltero/soltera marks marital status rather than temporary alone-ness, and the derived solterón or solterona can sound pejorative about an older unmarried person.

Other meanings

  • being unmarriednoun

Opposites

Related words

  • solterounmarried mannoun
  • solteraunmarried womannoun

Word lists with this word