What is the difference between "llamar", "sonar" in Spanish?

The English word 'to ring' can be translated into Spanish in several ways depending on the context. The main verbs you'll encounter are 'llamar' and 'sonar,' each used for different types of ringing actions.

How to Say "to ring" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to ring” is “llamar” — use 'llamar' when referring to the act of making a phone call to someone or, in British English, the act of ringing a doorbell..

llamar🔊A1

Use 'llamar' when referring to the act of making a phone call to someone or, in British English, the act of ringing a doorbell.

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sonar🔊A1

Use 'sonar' when referring to the sound produced by a phone, alarm clock, or doorbell.

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English → Spanish

llamar

/ya-mar//ʝaˈmaɾ/

VerbA1General

Use 'llamar' when referring to the act of making a phone call to someone or, in British English, the act of ringing a doorbell.

A person smiling while holding a mobile phone to their ear, depicting a phone call.

Examples

Te llamo en cinco minutos.

I'll call you in five minutes.

Mi mamá me llama todos los domingos.

My mom calls me every Sunday.

¿Puedes llamar a la pizzería para pedir la cena?

Can you call the pizzeria to order dinner?

Escuché que alguien llamaba a la puerta.

I heard someone knocking on the door.

Calling a Person

When you say who you are calling, you usually need to add the little word 'a' before their name or title. For example, 'Llamo a mi hermana' (I'm calling my sister).

Forgetting 'a'

Mistake: “Voy a llamar mi amigo.”

Correction: Voy a llamar a mi amigo. When the person you're calling is the direct 'receiver' of the action, Spanish uses what's called the 'personal a'.

See full entry for “llamar” →

llamar

/ya-mar//ʝaˈmaɾ/

VerbA2General

Use 'llamar' when someone is ringing a doorbell to get attention.

Examples

Escuché que alguien llamaba a la puerta.

I heard someone knocking on the door.

Te llamo en cinco minutos.

I'll call you in five minutes.

Mi mamá me llama todos los domingos.

My mom calls me every Sunday.

¿Puedes llamar a la pizzería para pedir la cena?

Can you call the pizzeria to order dinner?

Calling a Person

When you say who you are calling, you usually need to add the little word 'a' before their name or title. For example, 'Llamo a mi hermana' (I'm calling my sister).

Forgetting 'a'

Mistake: “Voy a llamar mi amigo.”

Correction: Voy a llamar a mi amigo. When the person you're calling is the direct 'receiver' of the action, Spanish uses what's called the 'personal a'.

See full entry for “llamar” →

sonar

/so-NAR//soˈnaɾ/

VerbA1General

Use 'sonar' when referring to the sound produced by a phone, alarm clock, or doorbell.

A simple illustration of a finger pressing a bright red doorbell button next to a wooden door.

Examples

Mi despertador suena a las seis de la mañana.

My alarm clock goes off at six in the morning.

¿Puedes oír? El teléfono está sonando.

Can you hear? The phone is ringing.

Las campanas de la iglesia sonaron al mediodía.

The church bells tolled at noon.

Stem-Changing Verb (o → ue)

In the present tense, the 'o' changes to 'ue' when stressed (yo, tú, él/ella/usted, ellos/ellas/ustedes). The 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms are regular and keep the 'o'.

Confusing 'Sonar' and 'Tocar'

Mistake: “Usar 'tocar' para decir que el teléfono hace ruido. (Using 'tocar' to say the phone makes noise.)”

Correction: Use 'sonar' for non-human things making noise (alarms, bells, phones). 'Tocar' means 'to touch' or 'to play a musical instrument'.

See full entry for “sonar” →

Llamar vs. Sonar

Learners often confuse 'llamar' and 'sonar' when talking about doorbells. Remember, 'llamar' is the action of ringing the bell (the person ringing it), while 'sonar' is the sound the bell makes.

Related Translations

to call→to knock→to name→to phone→to summon→to imagine→to seem→to sound→

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