sobrio
/ˈsobɾjo/
The Spanish word for sober is sobrio. Wiktionary also lists sereno.
Meaning: not drunk (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| sobrio | /ˈsobɾjo/ |
| sereno | /seˈɾeno/ |
The term sobrio is used to describe a person who is not intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
Which one should you use?
While sobrio specifically refers to the absence of alcohol or drugs, sereno is more often used to describe a person's calm or composed temperament.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective sobrio must agree in gender with the subject, so use sobria if the subject is female. The adverbial form of the word is sobriamente.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsobɾjo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking contexts, if you describe an interior design or a person's outfit as sobrio, you are complimenting their elegance and lack of excess rather than their alcohol consumption.
- While sereno means 'calm', it is also used in some Latin American countries to refer to the cold, damp night air that is believed to cause illness.
- The word sobrio comes from the Latin prefix se-, meaning 'without', combined with ēbrius, meaning 'intoxicated'.
Examples in context
- ¿Estabas sobrio en aquel momento?Were you sober at that time?This is useful for asking if someone was sober at a specific time.Tatoeba #1423044 by peibolvig, translation #68304 by CK
- He estado sobrio más de tres años.I've been sober for three years.This is useful for stating the duration of someone's sobriety.Tatoeba #5567554 by swyter, translation #5286041 by CK
- Estoy sobrio.I'm sober.This is useful for stating that you are currently sober.Tatoeba #7815283 by User83002, translation #2361904 by CK
- Después de la cena de negocios, siempre permanezco sobrio.After the business dinner, I always stay sober.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are talking at a party.
- SofíaDaniel, ¿estás sobrio ahora?Daniel, are you sober now?
- DanielSí, ya estoy sobrio.Yes, I am sober now.
- SofíaEntonces puedes conducirnos a casa.Then you can drive us home.
- DanielClaro, yo soy el conductor sobrio.Sure, I am the sober driver.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sober” translations and entries sobrio, sereno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sereno, sobrio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
