ronronear
/ronroneˈaɾ/
To purr in Spanish is ronronear.
The verb ronronear is used to describe the action of a cat making a vibrating sound in its throat.
Meaning: of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat (verb)
Which one should you use?
ronronear is the verb used for the action of purring, whereas ronroneo is the noun used to refer to the vibrating sound itself. If you want to describe something as being in a state of purring, you would use the adjective ronroneante.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present indicative form of the verb is ronronea (he/she purrs), and the gerund form used for the continuous action of purring is ronroneando.
How do you pronounce it?
/ronroneˈaɾ/
Did you know?
- While ronronear is the standard word for a cat's purr, Spanish speakers sometimes use the phrase está haciendo motor to describe a cat that is purring very loudly, as if it has an engine running.
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, if someone describes a person as having a 'ronroneo' in their voice, they are not talking about cats, but rather suggesting the person has a low, vibrating, and seductive tone.
- While 'purr' in English is almost exclusively used for cats, in Spanish, the verb ronronear can occasionally be used in technical or mechanical contexts to describe a motor that is running smoothly and quietly.
Examples in context
- No puedo ronronear como un gato. ¡Soy un perro!I cannot purr like a cat. I'm a dog!This sentence illustrates the use of ronronear in a comparative context.Tatoeba #1687292 by marcelostockle, translation #1686894 by Amastan
- El gato ronronea felizmente en el regazo de su dueño.The cat is purring happily in its owner's lap.
- Mi gatito ronronea cuando le rasco detrás de las orejas.My kitten purrs when I scratch behind its ears.
- El gato empieza a ronronear.The cat starts to purr.
Example conversation
Elena is holding her kitten while Mateo watches.
- MateoTu gato es muy cariñoso.Your cat is very affectionate.
- ElenaSí, y ya empieza a ronronear.Yes, and he is starting to purr already.
- MateoEs un sonido muy relajante.It is a very relaxing sound.
- ElenaA él le encanta que lo acaricien.He loves being petted.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “purr” translations and entries ronronear, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
