What's it like? ¿Cómo es?

Describing things using the five senses is part of everyday conversation, even if we don’t always realise we’re doing it. It’s how we help other people relate.

Note: These types of descriptions are part of storytelling—and storytelling in Spanish often uses the imperfect tense.

When we describe the world, we don’t just report facts—we draw connections.
We take one thing we already know and use it to make sense of something new.

This smells like that.
That guy looks like my uncle.
It sounds like something’s wrong.

In Spanish, there are different expressions for describing how things taste, smell, sound, or look.
They’re not all grammatically related, but they all serve the same purpose:
👉 to make things relatable by comparing and using comparison vocabulary.

Tastes like – saber a

Key idea:

saber = to know
saber a = to taste like

👉 Prepositions matter! “a” changes the meaning entirely—“saber a” shifts from knowing something to describing what something tastes like.

✅ Examples:

Esta salsa sabe a mango.
This sauce tastes like mango.
El café sabe a quemado.
The coffee tastes burnt.
Estas papas saben a ajo.
These chips taste like garlic.

Smells like – oler a

Oler is an irregular verb.

👉 Most real-life use is in the third person: huele (it smells) or huelen (they smell).

✅ Examples:

La calle huele a pan recién hecho.
The street smells like fresh bread.
Mis manos huelen a cebolla.
My hands smell like onion.
Tus pantalones huelen a perro mojado.
Your pants smell like wet dog.

Subject	Conjugation
yo	huelo
tú	hueles
él/ella/usted	huele
nosotros/nosotras	olemos
vosotros/vosotras	oléis
ellos/ellas/ustedes	huelen

Sounds like – sonar a / sonar como

From the verb sonar – to make or cause noise
(un sonido = a sound)

Sonar a → sounds like (reminds you of something)
Sonar como → sounds like (literal sound comparison)

👉 Not to be confused with soñar (to dream) – totally different meaning.

Subject	Conjugation
yo	sueno
tú	suenas
él/ella/usted	suena
nosotros/nosotras	sonamos
vosotros/vosotras	sonáis
ellos/ellas/ustedes	suenan

✅ Sonar a → “Sounds like…” (subjective / reminds you of something)

Esa historia suena a excusa.
That story sounds like an excuse.
Tu voz me suena a alguien que conozco.
Your voice sounds like someone I know.
Esa palabra suena a francés.
That word sounds French.

✅ Sonar como → “Sounds like…” (literal sound comparison)

Ese ruido suena como un trueno.
That noise sounds like thunder.
Tu guitarra suena como una eléctrica.
Your guitar sounds like an electric one.
Los niños suenan como un grupo de monos.
The kids sound like a bunch of monkeys.

Sonar como si = It sounds as if…

This structure uses the imperfect subjunctive because you’re describing something imagined, unconfirmed, or hypothetical.

Suena como si estuviera llorando.
It sounds as if she were crying.

Even if you’re confident, you’re still guessing—it’s not confirmed. That’s why Spanish treats it as hypothetical.

Verse – Looks like (literal, visible appearance)

Used when describing what something actually looks like to the eyes.

✅ Examples:

Te ves feliz hoy.
You look happy today.
Esa casa se ve nueva.
That house looks new.
Me veo cansado en esa foto.
I look tired in that photo.
Él se ve como un político.
He looks like a politician.

Parece – Seems like / Looks like (more abstract)

The verb parecer is often better understood as “seems like” rather than “looks like.” It’s more about impression or opinion, not visible appearance.
That said, people often say “looks like” in English when they mean “seems like,” so parecer often translates that way too.

✅ Examples:

Parece un profesor.
He looks like a teacher. (as in “he seems like one”)
Parece que no va a venir.
It seems like he’s not coming.

Parecerse a – To look like someone or something

Used for physical or character resemblance, always with “a”.

✅ Examples:

Ese bebé se parece a su papá.
That baby looks like his dad.
Tus muebles se parecen a los míos.
Your furniture looks like mine.

Verse en – To find oneself in a situation

An idiomatic use of verse that means to be seen in, or to end up in, a condition or scenario.

✅ Examples:

Nos vemos en una situación difícil.
We find ourselves in a tough spot.
Me vi en un problema con el banco.
I found myself in trouble with the bank.

This soup tastes like garlic.
The cake tastes like orange.
That sauce tastes like vinegar.
These chips taste like barbecue.
The drink tastes like medicine.
The chicken tastes like it was grilled.
This water tastes like chlorine.
The ice cream tastes like coconut.
Your tea tastes like cinnamon.
The stew tastes a bit burnt.

Your shirt smells like smoke.
This room smells like fresh paint.
My hands smell like onions.
The kitchen smells like garlic.
It smells like something’s burning.
Her perfume smells like flowers.
That candle smells like vanilla.
The house smells like wet dog.
The street smells like fresh bread.
His car smells like new leather.

a) Sonar a (reminds me of…)

That story sounds like a lie.
This song sounds like something from the 90s.
Your name sounds familiar.
That excuse sounds weak.
His voice sounds like someone I know.
This idea sounds like a good plan.
That offer sounds too good to be true.
Her laugh sounds like my sister’s.
That movie sounds interesting.
It sounds like he’s trying to avoid responsibility.

b) Sonar como (literal sound comparison)

That noise sounds like thunder.
Your keyboard sounds like a typewriter.
Their music sounds like an old rock band.
The engine sounds like it’s about to die.
These kids sound like a pack of hyenas.
That sound outside sounds like a cat.
The bell sounds like a fire alarm.
Your voice sounds like a cartoon character.
That guitar sounds like an electric one.
This app’s alert sound is like a microwave beep.

c) Sonar como si (sounds as if…)

It sounds like he’s crying.
It sounds as if they’re arguing.
It sounds like someone’s knocking.
It sounds like she’s laughing.
It sounds as if the dog is hurt.
It sounds like they’re whispering.
It sounds as if a baby is crying.
It sounds like someone dropped something.
It sounds like the wind is getting stronger.
It sounds like he’s talking in his sleep.

Verse (literal appearance)

You look tired today.
She looks happy in that photo.
That dress looks amazing on you.
He looks nervous.
This house looks brand new.
They look like they just woke up.
That meal looks delicious.
You look great with that haircut.
It looks crowded in there.
I look terrible in this picture.

Parecer (seems like, general impression)

He seems like a nice guy.
That place seems expensive.
She seems upset.
It looks like it’s going to rain.
He seems like someone who works a lot.
It seems like a good idea.
She seems tired.
That seems risky.
It looks like he’s not coming.
This seems familiar.

Parecerse a (resembles someone/something)

She looks like her mother.
That kid looks like my cousin.
This tastes like something my grandma used to make.
Your bag looks just like mine.
Their living room looks like ours.
He looks like a celebrity.
That cat looks like the one we used to have.
This place reminds me of my hometown.
This movie looks like one we saw last year.
You look like your brother when you smile.