Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sondar | /sonˈdaɾ/ | |
| sondear | /sondeˈaɾ/ | |
| asondar | /asondaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | alternative form |
The verb means to explore, investigate or question. You can use the phrase sondear el terreno as an idiom meaning to 'test the waters' or probing a situation before acting. Related noun forms include sonda, which refers to a physical probe, a spacecraft probe or a sounding device and sonda espacial, used in astronautics to mean a spacecraft. In biochemistry, sonda can also refer to a radioactively labeled molecule.
Which one should you use?
While sondar and sondear are often used interchangeably, sondar is more frequently used in technical contexts like sounding the depth of water or probing a physical substance.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb sondar is a regular -ar verb, meaning its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar.
How do you pronounce it?
/sonˈdaɾ/
Did you know?
- While sondar comes from the French 'sonder', that French word was originally borrowed from the Old English 'sundline', meaning a 'sounding line'.
- In a medical context, sonda is the word used for a catheter used to probe or drain a body cavity.
- The term sondear contains the suffix '-ear', which in Spanish is often used to turn a noun into a verb that describes an action performed with that object.
Examples in context
- El doctor utilizó una sonda para examinar el intestino del paciente.The doctor used a probe to examine the patient's intestine.
- El ingeniero insertó la sonda en el suelo para medir la profundidad.The engineer inserted the probe into the ground to measure the depth.
- El periodista va a sondar la opinión pública.The journalist is going to probe public opinion.
- Necesitamos sondar el terreno antes de la inversión.We need to probe the ground before the investment.
- Ella intentó sondar sus verdaderas intenciones.She tried to probe his true intentions.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing a new business strategy at a cafe.
- MateoDebemos sondar el mercado primero.We must probe the market first.
- SofíaEstoy de acuerdo, Mateo.I agree, Mateo.
- Mateo¿Cómo piensas sondar a los clientes?How do you plan to probe the customers?
- SofíaHaré algunas encuestas cortas.I will do some short surveys.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “probe” translations and entries sondar, sondear, asondar, 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 sondar, sondear, CC BY-SA 4.0.
