verb

sonner

ring

Faire un bruit pour avertir ou signaler quelque chose.

The French verb "sonner" primarily means "to ring" or "to sound."

Meanings and uses:

To ring (a bell, phone, alarm):
- Le téléphone sonne. — The phone is ringing.
- La cloche sonne à midi. — The bell rings at noon.
To sound (like, to seem):
- Ça sonne bien. — That sounds good.
- Cette explication ne sonne pas vrai. — This explanation doesn't sound true.
To strike (time):
- L’horloge sonne trois heures. — The clock strikes three o'clock.
Figurative:
- Sonner le départ — to signal the start.
- Sonner l’alarme — to sound the alarm (warn of danger).

Synonyms and their differences:

Résonner: means "to resonate" or "to echo." It often emphasizes the reverberation of a sound rather than the act of producing a sound.
- La cloche résonne dans la vallée. — The bell resonates (echoes) in the valley.
Tinter: specifically means "to ring" with a clear, often light sound — like a small bell or glass.
- Le verre tinte. — The glass rings (like a toast).
Retentir: means "to resound," often with a loud or strong impact.
- Le bruit a retenti dans toute la maison. — The noise resounded throughout the house.

In summary, "sonner" generally points to producing a ringing sound or simply "sounding" or "ringing," often in everyday contexts like phones, bells, and alarms. Other verbs like "résonner," "tinter," or "retentir" specify the type, quality, or intensity of the sound.