rugir
verbUpper-intermediate
What does “rugir” mean in English?
to roar
to roar (rugir — produce a powerful loud sound; animals, crowds, engines; intransitive)
Example sentences
La multitud rugió de entusiasmo cuando el equipo local marcó el gol definitivo.
The crowd roared with enthusiasm when the local team scored the decisive goal.
En la distancia se podía escuchar cómo rugían los motores de la maquinaria pesada.
In the distance you could hear the heavy machinery's engines roaring.
How to use it
Rugir means 'to roar'. Used for animals (un león ruge — a lion roars), crowds (la multitud rugió), engines (el motor ruge), and natural forces (el viento rugía). Intransitive. Literary and journalistic register at B2. The figurative crowd/engine sense is most productive.
Common mistake
Rugir (roar — loud, powerful sound) vs. gritar (shout — human voice, deliberate) vs. aullar (howl — mournful or wolf-like). Rugir implies raw power and volume; it cannot take a direct object.
Topics
Related Upper-intermediate words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Funciones 6.88.