How to Say "went off" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “went off” is “sonó” — use 'sonó' when referring to an alarm, siren, or device that made a sound, like a phone ringing or an alarm clock going off..
English → Spanish
VerbA1General
Use 'sonó' when referring to an alarm, siren, or device that made a sound, like a phone ringing or an alarm clock going off.
Examples
La alarma sonó a las seis de la mañana.
The alarm went off at six in the morning.
VerbA2General
Use 'explotó' when something physically exploded or blew up, often due to damage, malfunction, or a forceful event.
Examples
El viejo motor explotó por el sobrecalentamiento.
The old engine went off (exploded) due to overheating.
Sound vs. Explosion
The most common mistake is using 'explotó' for everyday sounds like alarms. Remember, 'sonó' is for sounds (ringing, beeping), while 'explotó' is for actual explosions or bursts.
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