suenan
/SWAE-nan/
they sound
Musical instruments 'suenan' (they sound) when they are played.
suenan(verb)
they sound
?objects or people making a noise
,they ring
?bells or alarms
they jingle
?keys or coins
,they go off
?alarms or sirens
📝 In Action
Las campanas de la iglesia suenan a las ocho.
A1The church bells ring at eight o'clock.
Tus llaves suenan mucho cuando caminas.
A2Your keys jingle a lot when you walk.
Esos instrumentos no suenan muy bien hoy.
A2Those instruments don't sound very good today.
💡 Grammar Points
The Hidden 'U'
This word comes from 'sonar'. Notice how the 'o' changes to 'ue' in this form. This only happens when the beat of the word falls on that specific vowel.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Forget the 'U'
Mistake: "Ellos sonan."
Correction: Ellos suenan. Because the stress is on the root, the 'o' must change to 'ue'.
⭐ Usage Tips
When to use 'Suenan'
Use this specific form only when talking about 'them' (ellos/ellas) or 'you all' (ustedes).
A bell represents something that 'suena' (rings a bell) when it is familiar.
suenan(verb)
ring a bell
?sounding familiar
,sound like
?resembling an idea or concept
seem
?giving a certain impression
📝 In Action
Esos nombres me suenan de algo.
B1Those names ring a bell / sound familiar to me.
Sus palabras suenan a mentira.
B2Their words sound like a lie.
💡 Grammar Points
Using it with 'Me'
To say 'They sound familiar to me,' put 'me' before the word: 'Me suenan'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Adding 'a'
If you want to say they sound LIKE something, add the word 'a' after: 'Suenan a música' (They sound like music).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: suenan
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'The names sound familiar to me'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't it 'sonan'?
In Spanish, some verbs change their middle vowel when you stress it. Since the stress is on the 'o' in 'suenan', it splits into 'ue'.
Does 'suenan' always mean noise?
Not always! It can also mean that something sounds familiar, like a person's face or a song you've heard before.