sonó
/soh-NOH/
rang
When something 'rang' in the past, like a bell or phone, we use the word sonó.
sonó(Verb)
rang
?phone, bell, alarm
,sounded
?noise, specific event
went off
?alarm, siren
,chime
?clock
📝 In Action
El teléfono sonó justo cuando salía de casa.
A1The phone rang just as I was leaving the house.
La alarma sonó a las siete en punto.
A2The alarm went off exactly at seven o'clock.
¿Escuchaste eso? Sonó como un trueno muy cerca.
A2Did you hear that? It sounded like thunder very close by.
💡 Grammar Points
The Simple Past (Preterite)
"Sonó" is used for actions that started and finished completely in the past, like a single, immediate event: The bell rang (and stopped).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'sonaba' (Imperfect) for a single ring."
Correction: Use 'sonó' (Preterite) for a single completed action. 'Sonaba' means it was ringing repeatedly or continuously.
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Boot' Change
Remember that the present tense of 'sonar' changes the 'o' to 'ue' (sueno), but in the past tense ('sonó'), the 'o' stays the same. The past tense is simpler!
Sonó can also mean 'sounded (like)', referring to the impression or feeling a noise gave, like 'it sounded like a cat'.
sonó(Verb)
sounded (like)
?seeming, impression
,seemed
?giving an impression
felt (like)
?impression
📝 In Action
Su propuesta sonó muy interesante, pero no dio detalles.
B1His proposal sounded very interesting, but he didn't give details.
Ese nombre no me sonó. ¿Quién es?
B2That name didn't sound familiar to me. Who is it?
La excusa que dio sonó a mentira.
C1The excuse he gave sounded like a lie.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Sonar' with 'A'
When using 'sonar' to mean 'sound like' (giving an impression), it often requires the preposition 'a': 'Sonó a una broma' (It sounded like a joke).
⭐ Usage Tips
Sounding Familiar
The phrase 'Me sonó' (It sounded to me) is the standard way to say 'It sounded familiar to me' or 'I recognized it.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sonó
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'sonó' to describe a single, completed action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'sonó' and 'sonaba'?
'Sonó' is the simple past (Preterite) and means the action happened once and finished: 'The phone rang.' 'Sonaba' is the descriptive past (Imperfect) and means the action was continuous or habitual: 'The phone was ringing' or 'The phone used to ring.'
How do I use 'sonar' when talking about blowing one's nose?
You need to use the reflexive form: 'sonarse la nariz.' For example: 'Él se sonó la nariz' (He blew his nose).