Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sarcasmo | /saɾˈkasmo/ | masculine |
| sorna | /ˈsoɾna/ | feminine |
Both sarcasmo and sorna refer to the use of derision or facetiousness. To describe someone speaking in a sarcastic manner, you can use the phrase con sarcasmo, which literally means 'with sarcasm'.
Which one should you use?
While sarcasmo is the standard term, sorna is a colloquial way to describe a tone of voice that is more biting, mocking or ironic.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase ¡Qué majo! can be used sarcastically to imply the opposite of 'How nice!' In Argentina, ¡Qué buen humor! can be used sarcastically to indicate that someone is not being pleasant. In Colombia, ¡Ay, qué amable! can be used sarcastically to imply that someone is being anything but kind.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective form for 'sarcastic' is sarcástico for masculine subjects or sarcástica for feminine subjects. sarcasmo is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/saɾˈkasmo/
When do people say it?
Sarcasm is often expressed through specific idiomatic phrases in informal settings. For example, you might use ¡Qué sorpresa! to indicate that something is not surprising at all, ¡Claro, cómo no! to agree when you actually find an idea ridiculous, ¡Qué raro! to express irony when something is not actually strange or Sí, claro to imply disbelief or skepticism.
Did you know?
- The word sarcasmo shares a surprising root with the word for 'flesh', as the original Greek term meant 'to tear off the flesh' or 'to gnash the teeth'.
- The word sorna is a shared linguistic trait across the Iberian Peninsula, appearing in Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan.
Examples in context
- Su sarcasmo me molesta.His sarcasm galls me.This sentence shows how the word sarcasmo can be used as a subject that causes annoyance.Tatoeba #4375383 by Dan18, translation #287243 by _undertoad
- Él no entiende el sarcasmo.He doesn't understand sarcasm.This sentence demonstrates a person's inability to understand sarcasmo.Tatoeba #1764679 by Shishir, translation #1749139 by Spamster
- Tu sarcasmo es inapropiado.Your sarcasm is inappropriate.This sentence uses sarcasmo to describe an inappropriate behavior.Tatoeba #10854898 by 12Daniel, translation #10854631 by ddnktr
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are having a disagreement about a joke.
- Alejandro¿Por qué usas tanto sarcasmo conmigo?Why do you use so much sarcasm with me?
- ElenaNo es mi intención herirte, Alejandro.It is not my intention to hurt you, Alejandro.
- AlejandroPero tu sarcasmo suena muy agresivo.But your sarcasm sounds very aggressive.
- ElenaLo siento, intentaré ser más seria.I am sorry, I will try to be more serious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sarcasm” translations and entries sarcasmo, sorna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sarcasmo, sorna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
