Spanish Conversation · Level 96
60 words
Spanish word
sonar
Pronunciation
IPA/soˈnaɾ/
Meaning
- verbsound
Example
Esta idea suena bien.
This idea sounds good.
More examples
El teléfono no deja de sonar.
The phone won't stop ringing.
Core concept
A sound that reaches the ear and triggers an impression or a memory.
Common phrases
sonar bien
sound good
hacer sonar
make ... sound
sonar fuerte
sound loudly
Similar words
oír: Perceives sounds entering the ear without deliberate attention.
escuchar: Pays attention to sounds or speech, listening intentionally to follow them.
parecer: Appears to have a particular quality or to be a certain way.
Definition in Spanish
Hacer que algo llegue al oído o manifestarse como un sonido; asimismo utilizarse para indicar que algo produce cierta impresión al oírlo o despierta un recuerdo.
Word origin
From Latin sonāre (related to sonus 'sound'), passed down through the Romance languages and widened from 'to make a sound' to 'to seem' or 'to evoke an impression or memory'.
Usage tips
- Often used impersonally as suena or suenan, and with me/te/le (me suena) to mean 'it rings a bell for me' rather than 'I sound'.