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"Sniff" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "oler", and "smell" is a noun which is often translated as "el olor". Learn more about the difference between "sniff" and "smell" below.
sniff(
snihf
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. aspirar
I sniffed the briny air and breathed a sigh of contentment.Aspiré el aire salobre y suspiré contento.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
3. (inhalation)
a. el resuello (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
She blew her nose and let out a sniff.Se sopló la nariz y se le escapó un resuello.
b. el resoplido (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The boy gave a sniff and began to cry.El niño dio un resoplido y se echó a llorar.
4. (smell)
a. el olorcillo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Leslie picked up a sniff of the roses before she saw them in the vase on the kitchen counter.Leslie percibió el olorcillo de las rosas antes de verlas en el florero en la encimera de la cocina.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. oler
Jimmy sniffed at the cauliflower soup and made a face of disgust.Jimmy olió la sopa de coliflor e hizo una mueca de desagrado.
b. olfatear
The dog sniffed at the ground and wagged his tail.El perro olfateó el suelo y sacudió la cola.
c. husmear
The cat stretched its neck, sniffing and wiggling its whiskers.El gato extendió el cuello, husmeando y moviendo los bigotes.
d. olisquear
The wolf was sniffing and looking for food in the bushes.El lobo olisqueaba y buscaba comida en los arbustos.
a. despreciar
I'm hungry, and free food is nothing to sniff at.Tengo hambre, y la comida gratis no es de despreciar.
b. hacer un gesto de desprecio
The art dealer showed the collector another painting, but she just sniffed and kept walking.El marchante le enseñó otro cuadro a la coleccionista, pero esta se limitó a hacer un gesto de desprecio y siguió paseando.
a. sorber
Kevin slammed the door. Anita was completely stunned, and proceeded to whimper and sniff for a long while.Kevin cerró la puerta de golpe. Anita se quedó atónita, y terminó lloriqueando y sorbiendo un buen rato.
smell(
smehl
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (aroma)
2. (sense)
a. el olfato (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Dogs have a more developed sense of smell than humans.Los perros tienen un sentido del olfato más desarrollado que el de los humanos.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
