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sonner

to ring

verb soh-NEH Less Common
Communication Speech

Also means

to sound

Usage Note

Sonner describes ringing (a doorbell, a phone, a bell) and also the general quality of a sound (ça sonne faux = that sounds false). The noun la sonnerie is the ringtone or bell sound, and la sonnette is a small bell or doorbell. The expression sonner le réveil means to sound the alarm or wake-up call.

Examples

"Le téléphone a sonné trois fois."

Natural Translation

The phone rang three times.

Literal Translation

The telephone has rung three times

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