Spanish Conversation · Level 57
74 words
Spanish word
sonreír
Pronunciation
IPA/sonreˈiɾ/
Meaning
- verbsmile
Example
La madre sonrió al ver al bebé.
The mother smiled upon seeing the baby.
More examples
El profesor sonrió al oír la respuesta correcta.
The teacher smiled on hearing the correct answer.
Core concept
A slight upward curve of the lips.
Common phrases
sonreír a alguien
smile at someone
sonreír de oreja a oreja
smile from ear to ear
sonreír tímidamente
smile shyly
Similar words
reír: Emits audible laughter, typically with clear vocal sound.
guiñar: Winks by shutting one eye briefly to signal familiarity or agreement.
sonrojarse: Turns red in the face due to shyness or embarrassment.
esbozar: Hints at a smile with a faint, quick upward curl of the lips.
Definition in Spanish
Formar una sonrisa leve en la boca para indicar simpatía, cortesía o satisfacción sin reír a carcajadas.
Word origin
From Latin sub- 'under' + ridēre 'to laugh', originally implying a restrained or 'under' laugh and later developing through Old Spanish into sonreír.
Usage tips
- The infinitive and stressed forms carry an accent (sonreír, yo sonrío) because the vowel break puts stress on the i, and Spanish commonly uses sonreír a alguien to mean 'smile at someone'.