Inklingo

How to Say "rang" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “rang” is “sonó” — use 'sonó' when a device like a phone, a bell, or an alarm makes a sound..

English → Spanish

sonó

soh-NOH/soˈno/

verbA1general
Use 'sonó' when a device like a phone, a bell, or an alarm makes a sound.
A simple, shiny brass handbell is depicted shaking slightly, with curved lines radiating outward to represent the ringing sound.

Examples

El teléfono sonó justo cuando salía de casa.

The phone rang just as I was leaving the house.

La alarma sonó a las siete en punto.

The alarm went off exactly at seven o'clock.

¿Escuchaste eso? Sonó como un trueno muy cerca.

Did you hear that? It sounded like thunder very close by.

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).

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.

toqué

/toh-KAY//toˈke/

verbA2general
Use 'toqué' when you physically ring or press a bell or doorbell.
A fist making contact with the dark brown wooden surface of a door, illustrating knocking.

Examples

Esperé un minuto y luego toqué el timbre otra vez.

I waited a minute and then I rang the doorbell again.

Toqué a la puerta, pero nadie abrió.

I knocked on the door, but nobody opened it.

Using 'a' with 'Tocar' (Knocking)

When 'tocar' means 'to knock,' it often uses the preposition 'a' before the door: 'toqué a la puerta'. However, if you are ringing a specific object, like a bell, you use the direct object: 'toqué el timbre'.

Sonó vs. Toqué

The most common mistake is using 'sonó' when you actually rang something yourself. Remember, 'sonó' describes a sound being made, while 'toqué' describes the action of you making the sound by touching a bell.

Related Translations

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