signo de exclamación
/siɡno de eɡsklamaθjon/from spelling rules
The English phrase "exclamation mark" is signo de exclamación in Spanish.
A signo de exclamación is a punctuation mark used to indicate strong feelings or high volume. In Spanish, exclamation marks are used in pairs: an inverted one (¡) at the beginning of the phrase and a standard one (!) at the end.
Which one should you use?
The term signo de admiración is a common synonym for signo de exclamación.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word signo is masculine, so the plural signos must be used when referring to multiple marks. When referring to multiple marks, use the plural form signos de exclamación.
How do you pronounce it?
/siɡno de eɡsklamaθjon/
Did you know?
- Spanish writers sometimes combine a signo de exclamación with a signo de interrogación to show a mix of surprise and questioning, such as ¡¿Qué?!
- In casual digital communication like WhatsApp, many native Spanish speakers omit the opening signo de exclamación just as they do in English.
- In Spanish, the word exclamación contains the same root as the English word 'claim', via the Latin 'clāmāre' meaning to shout.
Examples in context
- Cuando se escribe una frase, normalmente se suele empezar con mayúscula y finalizar con un punto (.), un signo de exclamación (!) o un signo de interrogación (?).When you write a sentence, it normally starts with an upper-case letter and ends in a period (.), an exclamation mark (!) or an interrogation mark (?).This sentence shows how a sentence might end with a signo de exclamación.Tatoeba #1399635 by Shishir, translation #10056348 by DJ_Saidez
- ¡Esta frase termina con un signo de exclamación!This sentence ends with an exclamation mark!This sentence demonstrates a sentence ending with a signo de exclamación.Tatoeba #4294162 by mervert1, translation #2684740 by Joseph
- No, una zanahoria no es tan importante que necesite un signo de exclamación detrás.No, a carrot is not important enough to need an exclamation mark after it.This sentence uses the phrase signo de exclamación to discuss the importance of a carrot.Tatoeba #8106511 by Goatstein, translation #2841197 by AlanF_US
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are proofreading a text together.
- AlejandroLucía, ¿ves este error en el texto?Lucía, do you see this error in the text?
- LucíaSí, falta un signo de exclamación al final.Yes, an exclamation mark is missing at the end.
- AlejandroTienes razón, lo voy a añadir ahora.You are right, I am going to add it now.
- LucíaGracias, Alejandro, ahora la frase tiene sentido.Thanks, Alejandro, now the sentence makes sense.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry signo de exclamación, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, exclamación, signo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
