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sonríe

/sohn-REE-eh/

smiles

A young woman with bright, kind eyes smiles gently and looks forward.

The image shows someone who "smiles" (present tense).

sonríe(Verb (Present Tense))

A1irregular (e > i stem change) ir

smiles

?

He/She/It/You formal smiles

,

is smiling

?

Continuous action

📝 In Action

Ella sonríe cuando piensa en su gato.

A1

She smiles when she thinks about her cat.

¿Usted sonríe por las mañanas?

A2

Do you (formal) smile in the mornings?

El bebé sonríe al ver a su mamá.

A1

The baby smiles upon seeing his mom.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • reír (to laugh)
  • alegrarse (to be happy)

Antonyms

  • llora (cries (he/she))
  • frunce el ceño (frowns (he/she))

Common Collocations

  • sonríe tímidamente – smiles shyly
  • sonríe con sinceridad – smiles sincerely

💡 Grammar Points

Identifying the Subject

When you see 'sonríe,' the person performing the action is either 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), 'eso' (it), or 'usted' (the formal way of saying 'you').

The E to I Change

The base verb 'sonreír' is tricky! The 'e' in the middle changes to an 'i' in most present tense forms, which is why it's 'sonríe' and not 'sonree'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Missing the Accent

Mistake: "Using 'sonrie' instead of 'sonríe'."

Correction: The accent on the 'i' is essential! It tells you to pronounce the 'i' and 'e' separately, emphasizing the 'i' sound: 'sohn-REE-eh'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Self-Correction Check

If you can replace 'sonríe' with 'He/She/You is smiling' and the sentence still makes sense, you're using this indicative form correctly.

A cheerful child with messy hair makes a huge, broad, joyful grin, showing maximum enthusiasm.

This image illustrates the informal singular command, "Smile!"

sonríe(Verb (Command Form))

A1irregular (e > i stem change) ir

Smile!

?

Informal singular command ('tú' command)

Also:

Put on a smile!

?

More emphatic command

📝 In Action

Para la foto, sonríe, por favor.

A1

For the picture, smile, please.

No te preocupes, sonríe. Todo estará bien.

A2

Don't worry, smile. Everything will be okay.

¡Sonríe! Es tu cumpleaños.

A1

Smile! It's your birthday.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ríe (laugh (command))

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Tú' Command

This 'sonríe' is the quick, informal way to tell one friend or family member to smile. Notice it looks exactly like the 'él/ella' present tense form!

Commands vs. Statements

If you want to give a formal command (to 'usted'), you must use 'sonría'. The tone and context tell you if 'sonríe' is a statement or a command.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong command

Mistake: "Telling a group of friends 'sonreíd' (vosotros command) when you should use 'sonríe' (tú command)."

Correction: Remember 'sonríe' is only for one person you address informally ('tú'). For a group (in Latin America), use 'sonrían'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Adding Politeness

To soften the command, always add 'por favor' (please) after 'sonríe' in everyday conversation.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sonríe

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'sonríe' as a command?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

sonreír(to smile) - verb
la sonrisa(the smile) - noun
sonriente(smiling) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'sonríe' have an accent mark?

The accent mark is there to break up the vowel sounds, ensuring you pronounce the 'i' and 'e' separately (hiatus). Without the accent, it would sound like a single syllable, which is incorrect for this word.

What is the difference between 'sonreír' and 'reír'?

'Sonreír' means to smile, which is a silent expression of happiness. 'Reír' means to laugh, which usually involves sound and is a more intense expression.