Spanish Phrase
La alarma suena fuerte.
Meaning
This phrase is used to describe an alarm that is currently ringing or typically rings with a high volume. It combines the noun 'alarma' with the verb 'sonar' and the descriptor 'fuerte' to indicate intensity.
When to use
Use this sentence in the morning when discussing your wake-up routine or when a car or building alarm is making noise nearby. It is a common way to complain about or simply state the volume of a sound.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Laalarmasuenafuerte
La alarma
A feminine noun meaning 'the alarm'. Note that it starts with 'a', but because the stress is on the second syllable, it keeps the feminine article 'la'.
Suena (Sonar)
This is a stem-changing verb where the 'o' changes to 'ue' in the present tense for most subjects.
Fuerte
In this context, 'fuerte' acts as an adverb modifying the verb 'suena' to describe the volume level.
🗨In Conversation
¿Por qué tienes esa cara de cansado?
Why do you have that tired face?
La alarma suena fuerte todas las mañanas y me asusta.
The alarm sounds loud every morning and it scares me.
✕Common Mistakes
La alarma suena ruidosamente.
While technically correct, 'fuerte' is much more common in natural spoken Spanish to describe volume.
La alarma es suena fuerte.
Do not use the verb 'ser' before another conjugated verb like 'suena'.
↔Alternatives
El despertador está sonando.
The alarm clock is ringing.
La alarma hace mucho ruido.
The alarm makes a lot of noise.
Cultural Tip
In Spanish, the word 'fuerte' (strong) is the most natural way to say 'loud' regarding volume. While 'alto' (high) is also used in some regions, 'fuerte' specifically captures the piercing nature of an alarm.