sonido
“sonido” means “sound” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
sound, noise
Also: tone
📝 In Action
El sonido de la alarma me despertó.
A1The sound of the alarm woke me up.
¿Escuchaste ese sonido raro en el motor?
A2Did you hear that weird noise in the engine?
Apaga la televisión; necesito silencio, no más sonido.
A1Turn off the TV; I need silence, no more sound.
audio quality, tone/timbre
Also: sound design
📝 In Action
El ingeniero de sonido trabajó toda la noche en la mezcla final.
B2The sound engineer worked all night on the final mix.
Me encanta el sonido vintage de esta guitarra eléctrica.
C1I love the vintage tone of this electric guitar.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sonido
Question 1 of 2
Which of these phrases correctly uses 'sonido' as a masculine noun?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'sonido' comes directly from the Latin word 'sonitus,' which meant 'a sound' or 'a noise.' It shares its root with English words like 'sonic' and 'unison.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish period (around 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'sonido' and 'ruido'?
'Sonido' is the general, neutral term for anything audible, like a sound or music. 'Ruido' specifically means 'noise' or 'loud/unpleasant sound'—it usually has a negative feeling associated with it.
How do I say 'to make a sound'?
The most common way is 'hacer un sonido' (to make a sound) or, even more commonly, using the verb 'sonar' (to sound/to ring): 'El teléfono sonó' (The phone rang).