Inklingo

sonríe

sohn-REE-ehsonˈri.e

sonríe means smiles in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

smiles, is smiling

A1irregular (e > i stem change) ir
A young woman with bright, kind eyes smiles gently and looks forward.
infinitivesonreír
gerundsonriendo
past Participlesonreído

📝 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 tímidamentesmiles shyly
  • sonríe con sinceridadsmiles sincerely

Smile!Also: Put on a smile!

Verb (Command Form)A1irregular (e > i stem change) irneutral/informal
A cheerful child with messy hair makes a huge, broad, joyful grin, showing maximum enthusiasm.
infinitivesonreír
gerundsonriendo
past Participlesonreído

📝 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))

Indicative

Present

yosonrío
sonríes
él/ella/ustedsonríe
nosotrossonreímos
vosotrossonreís
ellos/ellas/ustedessonríen

Imperfect

yosonreía
sonreías
él/ella/ustedsonreía
nosotrossonreíamos
vosotrossonreíais
ellos/ellas/ustedessonreían

Preterite

yosonreí
sonreíste
él/ella/ustedsonrió
nosotrossonreímos
vosotrossonreísteis
ellos/ellas/ustedessonrieron

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yosonría
sonrías
él/ella/ustedsonría
nosotrossonriamos
vosotrossonriáis
ellos/ellas/ustedessonrían

Imperfect Subjunctive

yosonriera/sonriese
sonrieras/sonrieses
él/ella/ustedsonriera/sonriese
nosotrossonriéramos/sonriésemos
vosotrossonrierais/sonrieseis
ellos/ellas/ustedessonrieran/sonriesen

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "sonríe" in Spanish:

✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes
ríefríe
📚 Etymology

Formed in Spanish by adding the prefix *son-* (which means 'sub-') to the verb *reír* (to laugh). Therefore, *sonreír* literally means 'to laugh a little,' or 'to partially laugh.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: sorriCatalan: somriu

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

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.