vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Smile" is a noun which is often translated as "la sonrisa", and "smirk" is a noun which is often translated as "la sonrisa satisfecha". Learn more about the difference between "smile" and "smirk" below.
smile(
smayl
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. la sonrisa (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
He has the sweetest smile I have ever seen.Tiene la sonrisa más dulce que he visto.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. sonreír
Marisa smiled at me and winked an eye.Marisa me sonrió y guiñó un ojo.
Would you smile for the picture, please?¿Pueden sonreír para la foto, por favor?
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
3. (to grin)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
She smiled her thanks when we gave her the flowers.Nos dio las gracias con una sonrisa cuando le dimos las flores.
The kid smiled a big smile when his mother gave him an ice cream.El niño sonrió de oreja a oreja cuando su madre le dio un helado.
smirk(
smuhrk
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (smug smile)
a. la sonrisa satisfecha (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
"I won," Claudia said with a smirk."Gané", dijo Claudia con una sonrisa satisfecha.
b. la sonrisa de suficiencia (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The accused sat with a smirk on his face during the entire trial.El acusado se pasó el juicio entero sentado con una sonrisa de suficiencia en la cara.
a. la sonrisa de complicidad (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
"We could skip dinner and go to my place," he said with a smirk."Podríamos saltarnos la cena e ir a mi casa", dijo él con una sonrisa de complicidad.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. sonreír con aire satisfecho
He smirked at his image in the mirror.Sonrió con aire satisfecho a la imagen que le devolvía el espejo.
b. sonreír con aire de suficiencia
The journalist smirked when she was proved right.La periodista sonrió con aire de suficiencia cuando se demostró que tenía razón.
a. sonreír con complicidad
Vera smirked at Bill, and he realized she knew the whole truth.Vera sonrió a Bill con complicidad, y él se dio cuenta de que ella sabía toda la verdad.