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"Sonar" is a form of "sonar", an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to ring". "Sonarse la nariz" is a pronominal verb phrase which is often translated as "to blow one's nose". Learn more about the difference between "sonar" and "sonarse la nariz" below.
sonar(
soh
-
nahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
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.
d. to rumble
No he desayunado y me suenan las tripas.I did not have breakfast and my stomach is rumbling.
3. (to appear)
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 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).
6. (nautical)
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.).
a. to blow
¿Tienes un pañuelo? Tengo que sonarme la nariz.Do you have a tissue? I need to blow my nose.
sonarse la nariz(
soh
-
nahr
-
seh
lah
nah
-
rees
)A pronominal verb phrase combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Se dio cuenta del problema.)
a. to blow one's nose
¿Por qué hace tanto ruido ese hombre cuando se suena la nariz?Why does that man make so much noise when he blows his nose?
sonar la nariz
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. to blow someone's nose
A mi hijo le tengo que sonar la nariz porque él todavía no sabe hacerlo solo.I have to blow my son's nose for him because he can't do it by himself yet.
