alarma
/aˈlaɾma/
The English word 'alarm' is translated into Spanish as alarma.
Alarma is the most common and widely recognized term for 'alarm' in Spanish. It can refer to the sound itself or the mechanical device or mechanism used to create the alarm. If you specifically mean an alarm clock used to wake someone up, the word despertador is more precise.
Meaning: mechanical contrivance for awaking (noun)
Which one should you use?
While alarma is a general term for an alarm, you may encounter other words depending on the context: despertador is used specifically for an alarm clock and sirena primarily refers to a siren.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the term timbre may be used to refer specifically to an alarm bell or buzzer.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun alarma is feminine and requires feminine articles and adjectives.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈlaɾma/
Did you know?
- The word alarma shares a direct ancestry with the English phrase 'to arms', stemming from the Italian command all'arme used to call soldiers to action.
- The Spanish word sirena is used for both a loud emergency alarma and the mythical half-human half-fish creature.
- In some contexts, alarma is used as a synonym for 'panic', meaning the feeling of anxiety rather than the object that causes it.
Examples in context
- Tom apagó la alarma.Tom turned off the alarm.This sentence shows how to use alarma when talking about turning it off.Tatoeba #2745807 by Shishir, translation #2644790 by CK
- Haz sonar la alarma.Sound the alarm.This sentence demonstrates how to use alarma in the context of sounding it.Tatoeba #8377968 by arh, translation #8080250 by CK
- Era una falsa alarma.It was a false alarm.This sentence uses alarma to describe a false alarm.Tatoeba #2008765 by Shishir, translation #1977340 by Spamster
- No olvides poner el despertador si no quieres llegar tarde mañana.Don't forget to set the alarm clock if you don't want to be late tomorrow.
- 59 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is in the bedroom in the morning.
- María¿No escuchaste la alarma?Didn't you hear the alarm?
- AlejandroNo, la alarma no sonó.No, the alarm didn't sound.
- MaríaEs una alarma muy vieja.It is a very old alarm.
- AlejandroTienes razón, María.You are right, María.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry alarma, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alarma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
