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"El teléfono" is a form of "teléfono", a noun which is often translated as "telephone". "Sonar" is a form of "sonar", an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to ring". Learn more about the difference between "el teléfono" and "sonar" below.
el teléfono(
teh
-
leh
-
foh
-
noh
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. telephone
Ese teléfono es demasiado complicado para mí.That telephone is too complicated for me.
b. phone
¿Me prestas tu teléfono para hacer una llamada? El mío está sin batería.Can I borrow your phone to make a call? Mine has run out of battery.
a. telephone number
¿Tienes el teléfono del gerente?Do you have the manager's telephone number?
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sonar(
soh
-
nahr
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to ring (telephone)
El teléfono estuvo sonando toda la mañana.The telephone was ringing all morning long.
b. to beep (electronic device)
Mi ordenador suena si pulso muchas teclas a la vez.My computer beeps when I hit many keys at the same time.
c. to go off (alarm)
El despertador sonó en medianoche.The alarm went off at midnight.
d. to rumble
No he desayunado y me suenan las tripas.I did not have breakfast and my stomach is rumbling.
a. to be pronounced
La "h" de "hablar" no suena.The "h" in "hablar" is not pronounced.
a. to sound
Un día en la playa me suena perfecto.A day on the beach sounds perfect.
Su acento suena raro.His accent sounds funny.
a. to look familiar
¿No te suena su cara?Does his face look familiar to you?
b. to ring a bell (colloquial)
¿Te suena el nombre de esa chica?Does her name ring a bell with you?
a. to kick the bucket (informal)
El más viejo del lugar sonó.The oldest man in the village kicked the bucket.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. sonar
El buque contaba con un sonar que le permitía detectar submarinos.The ship had a sonar that allowed it to detect submarines.
sonarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
reflexive verb
a. to blow
¿Tienes un pañuelo? Tengo que sonarme la nariz.Do you have a tissue? I need to blow my nose.
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