Spanish Conversation · Level 39
74 words
Spanish word
timbre
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈtimbɾe/
Meaning
- masculine noundoorbell
Example
¿Puedes tocar el timbre, por favor?
Can you ring the doorbell, please?
More examples
Escuché el timbre de la puerta.
I heard the doorbell.
Core concept
A door-mounted device that gives a short ringing sound to signal someone at the entrance.
Common phrases
tocar el timbre
ring the doorbell
sonar el timbre
ring
el timbre de la puerta
the doorbell
Similar words
sonería: Alerts a phone or device user with a ringtone sound for incoming calls.
toque: Gives a short signal tone used to call attention or mark a brief alert.
pitido: Produces a short, high-pitched electronic beep from devices or alarms.
campana: Rings as a large, resonant bell sound in buildings or churches.
Definition in Spanish
Dispositivo u objeto que emite un sonido breve para avisar la llegada de alguien, como el timbre de una puerta; por extensión, la cualidad tonal que distingue una voz o un instrumento.
Word origin
Borrowed from French timbre and ultimately from Latin tympanum (Greek tympanon) meaning 'drum', with the meaning shifting from struck instruments to bells and then to sound quality.
Usage tips
- English speakers should note that Spanish timbre often means the physical doorbell, so explicitly state timbre de voz when referring to tone quality.