Inklingo

How to Say "signal" in Spanish

English → Spanish

señal

NounA2General
Use 'señal' when referring to a physical sign or marker that guides you, or an electronic wave for communication like TV or radio.

Examples

Sigue las señales para llegar al centro.

Follow the signs to get to the center.

seña

NounA2General
Use 'seña' specifically for a gesture or hand movement made to communicate something, like a wave or a beckoning motion.

Examples

Mi amigo me hizo una seña desde lejos.

My friend waved to me from a distance.

señal

NounB1General
Use 'señal' when referring to a specific gesture or cue given by someone in authority to indicate the start or end of something.

Examples

El director de orquesta dio la señal para empezar.

The conductor gave the signal to begin.

toque

TOH-kehˈto.ke

NounB1Formal/Specific
Use 'toque' for a specific sound, often a bell or bugle, used for official or military announcements.
A large, golden cartoon bell hanging, with visible sound waves radiating outwards to indicate a chime.

Examples

A las doce sonó el toque de campanas que anunciaba la misa.

At twelve, the chime of the bells rang out announcing the mass.

El toque de trompeta indicó el fin del desfile.

The trumpet signal indicated the end of the parade.

Signal Noun

When used for signals, 'toque' refers to the specific pattern or type of sound (a repeated action of 'touching' the bell/instrument), not just the general noise.

Señal vs. Seña

Learners often confuse 'señal' and 'seña' because both can refer to a gesture. Remember that 'señal' is more common for general signs (like road signs or electronic signals), while 'seña' is specifically for a communicative gesture or motion.

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