How do you say "smile" in Spanish?

sonreír

Verb Noun

In Spanish, "smile" is sonreír.

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Pronunciation

Say son-reh-EER, stress on the last syllable, built from 'reír', to laugh, with son- added.

Grammar notes

sonreír is a verb used the same way as its English equivalent.

Example sentence

Sonrió cálidamente a los invitados.

She smiled warmly at the guests.

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How to remember sonreír

Sonreír contains 'reír', to laugh, inside it, since a smile is a quieter cousin of laughter.

Related words

Browse all Spanish words in the glossary.

Questions about sonreír

How do you pronounce sonreír?

Say son-reh-EER, stress on the last syllable, built from 'reír', to laugh, with son- added.

Is sonreír formal or casual?

sonreír is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is sonreír used in Spanish?

sonreír is used the same way as the equivalent English verb. For example: Sonrió cálidamente a los invitados. (She smiled warmly at the guests.).

Where can I practice Spanish words for free?

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"Smile" in other languages

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