hacerse el sordo
Lemma Details
Translation: to pretend not to hear; to turn a deaf ear; to ignore deliberately
Part of Speech: idiom
Etymology: This Spanish idiom combines 'hacerse' (to make oneself, to become) with 'el sordo' (the deaf person). Literally, it means 'to make oneself deaf' or 'to become the deaf one,' conveying the idea of deliberately ignoring what someone is saying by pretending not to hear it.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 40%
Register: informal
Example Usage
Siempre se hace el sordo cuando le pido que saque la basura.
He always pretends not to hear when I ask him to take out the trash.
El gobierno se hace el sordo ante las protestas de los ciudadanos.
The government turns a deaf ear to citizens' protests.
No te hagas el sordo, sé que me estás escuchando.
Don't pretend you can't hear me, I know you're listening.
Mnemonics
- Think of someone putting their hands over their ears and saying 'I can't hear you!'
- Imagine someone 'making themselves deaf' (hacerse sordo) by turning up music to avoid hearing someone calling them
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This expression is commonly used in everyday Spanish conversation to describe someone who is deliberately ignoring requests, advice, or commands. It's often used in family settings when someone is avoiding responsibilities or in social situations when someone is avoiding uncomfortable topics.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'hacerse el sordo' means to pretend not to hear (intentional), 'ser sordo' means to actually be deaf (a physical condition).
Confused word:
Mi abuelo es sordo y necesita un audífono.
My grandfather is deaf and needs a hearing aid.
Notes: The reflexive construction with 'hacerse' indicates taking on a characteristic temporarily or intentionally.
Mnemonic: 'Hacerse' implies an action or change (pretending), while 'ser' indicates a permanent state (actually being deaf).
Explanation: Both are idioms about pretending, but 'hacerse el sordo' is about pretending not to hear, while 'hacerse el tonto' means pretending to be stupid or clueless.
This word:
Se hace el sordo cuando le conviene.
He pretends not to hear when it's convenient for him.
Confused word:
No te hagas el tonto, sabes perfectamente lo que pasó.
Don't play dumb, you know perfectly well what happened.
Notes: Both expressions follow the same grammatical pattern of 'hacerse el/la + adjective' to indicate pretending to have a certain quality.
Mnemonic: Sordo = ears (not hearing), tonto = brain (not understanding).