Solo vs soltanto vs solamente?

Question

I was trying to find out how to translate the word "only" and found three separate words. Could someone help me understand when each of these is used and what the differences are between them? Examples would be amazing.

Answer 1

They basically the same.

SOLO is used in a more colloquial way and can used both as an adjective and as an adverb. Notice the difference:

(ADJ: parlo un solo minuto)

(ADV: parlo solo un minuto; vorrei solo vederti)

SOLAMENTE and SOLTANTO can be only used as adverbs:

ADV: ( parlo soltanto un minuto; parlo solamente un minuto / vorrei soltanto vederti; vorrei solamente vederti)