sonarme la nariz
/sonaɾme la naɾiθ/from spelling rules
To blow my nose in Spanish is sonarme la nariz.
This phrase is used to describe the action of forcing air out of the nose into a tissue to clear the nasal passages.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase in an infinitive form (to blow one's nose), the reflexive pronoun changes from 'me' to 'se' to match the third person.
How do you pronounce it?
/sonaɾme la naɾiθ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the possessive adjective 'mi' (my) instead of the reflexive pronoun and the definite article 'la' (the) when describing body parts in Spanish.
Did you know?
- The verb sonar usually means 'to sound' or 'to ring', such as a bell or a phone. In the context of sonarme la nariz, it takes on the specific sense of 'to make a sound' via air passing through the nose.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, blowing your nose loudly in a public setting is often considered much more impolite than it is in English-speaking countries. It is common practice to use a tissue or handkerchief discreetly to avoid drawing attention.
- The word nariz shares a common ancestor with the English word 'nasal' and the Latin 'naris', meaning 'nostril'. This linguistic connection makes the word's origin very easy to trace for English speakers.
Examples in context
- Necesito sonarme la nariz.I need to blow my nose.
- ¿Puedo ir al baño a sonarme la nariz?Can I go to the bathroom to blow my nose?
- Voy a sonarme la nariz con este pañuelo.I am going to blow my nose with this tissue.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are sitting in a living room.
- AlejandroPerdona, voy a sonarme la nariz.Excuse me, I'm going to blow my nose.
- Lucía¿Necesitas un pañuelo, Alejandro?Do you need a tissue, Alejandro?
- AlejandroSí, por favor, dame uno.Yes, please, give me one.
- LucíaAquí tienes, toma.Here you go, take it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, nariz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
