resoplar
/resoˈplaɾ/
To snort in Spanish is resoplar. Wiktionary also lists bufar.
Meaning: to exhale roughly through the nose (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| resoplar | /resoˈplaɾ/ |
| bufar | /buˈfaɾ/ |
The verb refers to the act of exhaling roughly through the nose.
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on what is making the sound. resoplar is typically used for the heavy breathing or snorting sounds made by large animals like horses or bulls. In contrast, bufar is often used to describe a snort of anger, annoyance or indignation, often by a person or a small animal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the sound itself as a noun, you can use the specific derivatives of the verbs: resoplido is the noun derived from resoplar and bufido is the noun derived from bufar.
How do you pronounce it?
/resoˈplaɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a bufido is not just a sound, but a specific facial expression of contempt used during an argument.
- The word bufar is also used in some regions to describe the hissing sound a cat makes when threatened.
- The word resoplar is a compound of the prefix re- and the verb soplar, which means 'to blow'.
Examples in context
- El caballo empezó a resoplar.The horse started to snort.
- No dejes de resoplar así.Don't keep snorting like that.
- Él suele resoplar cuando está cansado.He tends to snort when he is tired.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are walking near a stable.
- DanielEscucha, ese animal va a resoplar.Listen, that animal is going to snort.
- LucíaDaniel, es un sonido muy fuerte.Daniel, it is a very loud sound.
- DanielParece que el caballo está inquieto.It looks like the horse is restless.
- LucíaSí, acaba de resoplar de nuevo.Yes, it just snorted again.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snort” translations and entries resoplar, bufar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bufar, resoplar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
