sobre

See also: sobré, sôbre, and sobre-

Asturian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsobɾe/ [ˈso.β̞ɾe]
• Hyphenation: so‧bre

Etymology 1

Noun

sobre m (plural sobres)

1. envelope

Etymology 2

From Latin super.

Preposition

sobre

1. on (the surface of)
2. above
3. around, about (roughly near to in time or space)

   sobre les cinco

   around five (o'clock)

4. about

Bikol Central

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish sobre.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsobɾe/ [ˈso.bɾe]
• Hyphenation: so‧bre

Noun

sóbre (Basahan spelling ᜐᜓᜊ᜔ᜍᜒ)

1. envelope

Derived terms

• magsobre
• sobrehon

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Old Catalan sobre, from Latin super (“above”), from *eks-uper, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵʰs (“out of”) (Latin ex) and *uperi (“above”), from *upo. Doublet of the borrowed súper.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [ˈso.βɾə]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [ˈso.bɾə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈso.bɾe]

Preposition

sobre

1. on, on top of
2. over, above
3. about (a subject)

Derived terms

• a sobre

Related terms

• soberg
• sobirà
• sobrar
• sobre-
• súper
• super-

Noun

sobre m (plural sobres)

1. top, upper part of an object
2. envelope

References

• “sobre” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “sobre” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
• “sobre”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025

Chavacano

Etymology

Inherited from Spanish sobre (“envelope”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsobɾe/, [ˈso.bɾe]
• Hyphenation: sob‧re

Noun

sobre

1. envelope

Danish

Adjective

sobre

1. definite of sober
2. plural of sober

Fala

Alternative forms

• sobri

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese sobre, from Latin super (“above”), from Proto-Indo-European *eḱs *uperi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsobɾe/
• Rhymes: -obɾe
• Syllabification: so‧bre

Preposition

sobre

1. about; concerning (on the subject of)
   • 2000, Domingo Frades Gaspar, Vamus a falal: Notas pâ coñocel y platical en nosa fala, Editora regional da Extremadura, Theme II, Chapter 2: Recunquista:

     Non poemos analizar con pormenoris estis siglos, pero tampoco se debi toleral que, sin fundamentus, se poña en duda algo que a Historia documentá nos lega sobre nossa terra.

     We can’t thoroughly analyse these centuries, but one mustn’t tolerate that, unfoundedly, something documented history tells us about our land be questioned.

2. above; on; over

Derived terms

• sobre tó

References

• Valeš, Miroslav (2021) Diccionariu de A Fala: lagarteiru, mañegu, valverdeñu (web)‎^[1], 2nd edition, Minde, Portugal: CIDLeS, published 2022, →ISBN

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French sobre, borrowed from Latin sobrius.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɔbʁ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

sobre (plural sobres)

1. sober (teetotal)
2. sober (dull, unexciting)
3. modest

   Synonym: modeste

Derived terms

• sobre comme un chameau
• sobrement

Related terms

• sobriété

Further reading

• “sobre”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams

• orbes, robes

Galician

Alternative forms

• sobor

Etymology

From Old Galicia and Old Galician-Portuguese sobre, from Latin super.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsobɾe/ [ˈs̺o.β̞ɾɪ]
• Rhymes: -obɾe
• Hyphenation: so‧bre

Preposition

sobre

1. on, atop
2. about, concerning

Derived terms

• sobre de

Further reading

• “sobre”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2025

References

• Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, Ana Isabel Boullón Agrelo (2006–2022) “sobre”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Xavier Varela Barreiro, Xavier Gómez Guinovart (2006–2018) “sobre”, in Corpus Xelmírez - Corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “sobre”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “sobre”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “sobre”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Hiligaynon

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish sobre.

Noun

sobre

1. envelope
2. excess

Norman

Etymology

From Old French sobre, borrowed from Latin sōbrius.

Adjective

sobre m or f

1. (Jersey) sober

Portuguese

Etymology 1

From Old Galician-Portuguese sobre, from Latin super, from *eks-uper, which consists of Proto-Indo-European *eḱs (“out of”) and *uperi. Doublet of the borrowed super.

Cognate to Spanish sobre, French sur, Ancient Greek ὑπέρ (hupér, “above”) and English over, super and sur-.

Alternative forms

• sôbre (pre-reform spelling)

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈso.bɾi/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈso.bɾi/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈso.bɾe/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈso.bɾɨ/ [ˈso.βɾɨ]

• Hyphenation: so‧bre

Preposition

sobre

2. on; atop; on top of (located on the top surface of)

   Synonyms: (less formal) em cima de, (less formal) em

   Deixaram um livro sobre a mesa. ― They left a book on the table.

   • 2007, Robson André, Inutaoshi: "A Presa do Lobo", Clube de Autores, page 141:

     Retirei o meu obi, junto com Ootsuka, e o depositei sobre o capim baixo. Arrumei o meu kimono, que estava em farrapos, junto ao corpo e comecei a vestir a minha proteção.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2015, Jo Takahashi, Izakaya: Por dentro dos botecos japoneses, Editora Melhoramentos, →ISBN, pages 194–195:

     Okonomiyaki: Vulgarmente conhecida como "pizza japonesa", é uma espécie de panqueca assada em chapa quente, sobre a qual são dispostos frutos do mar, vegetais e até queijo. Okonomi significa "ao seu gosto", e, em alguns restaurantes especializados, o próprio cliente prepara o seu prato, à frente de uma chapa, misturando os ingredientes de sua preferência. Geralmente é finalizado com maionese, tarê (molho adocicado de shoyu) e katsuobushi.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

4. over; above (in or through the space above)

   Synonyms: (less formal) por cima de, acima de, (less formal) em cima de

   Antonyms: embaixo de, sob

   O pássaro voou sobre a muralha. ― The bird flew over the wall.

6. about; concerning (on the subject of)

   Synonyms: (more formal) acerca de, (more formal) a respeito de

   Discorremos sobre a guerra. ― We talked about the war.

   • 2003, J. K. Rowling, translated by Lia Wyler, Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix [Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix] (Harry Potter; 5), Rio de Janeiro: Rocco, →ISBN, page 294:

     [...] o único professor presente quando entraram [na sala de aula] era Binns, [...] preparando-se para continuar sua monótona lengalenga sobre a guerra dos gigantes.

     [...] the only teacher present when they entered [the classroom] was Binns, [...] preparing to continue his monotonous explanation about the giants' war.

   • 2012, Luís Fernando Veríssimo, “A tia que caiu no Sena”, in Diálogos Impossíveis, Rio de Janeiro: Editora Objetiva, →ISBN, page 61:

     A conversa era sobre parentes, os parentes estranhos, interessantes ou, por qualquer razão, notáveis de cada um. Alguém já tinha contado que um parente comia favo de mel com abelha dentro.

Related terms

• sobejo
• soberano
• soberbo
• sobrar
• sobre-
• super
• super-

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈsɔ.bɾi/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈsɔ.bɾi/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈsɔ.bɾe/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈsɔ.bɾɨ/ [ˈsɔ.βɾɨ]

• Hyphenation: so‧bre

Verb

sobre

1. inflection of sobrar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsobɾe/ [ˈso.β̞ɾe]
• Rhymes: -obɾe
• Syllabification: so‧bre

Etymology 1

Inherited from Old Spanish sobre, from Latin super (“above”), from *eks-uper, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵʰs (“out of”) (Latin ex) and *uperi (“above”), from *upo. Doublet of the borrowed super.

Preposition

sobre

1. over, above, on, upon, atop

   La pluma de mi tía está sobre la mesa.

   My aunt's pen is on the table.

2. about

   Dime algo sobre ti.

   Tell me something about yourself.

Usage notes

• In the sense of over or on, it is often replaced with the more general en, or with the more wordy arriba de or encima de. In the sense of about, being slightly informal, it is usually replaced in formal contexts with acerca de, or simply de if the context is sufficient to make the meaning clear.

Derived terms

• a sobre peine
• albarda sobre albarda
• albarda sobre aparejo
• descansar sobre las armas
• edificar sobre arena
• miel sobre hojuelas
• opción sobre acciones
• sobre el papel
• sobre el pucho
• sobre el terreno
• sobre la marcha
• sobre las armas
• sobre los ojos
• sobre poco más o menos
• sobre ruedas
• sobre seguro
• sobre sí
• sobre todo
• sobre un volcán

Related terms

• sobejo
• soberano
• soberbia
• sobornal
• sobrar
• sobre-
• sobrevivir
• super, super-

Noun

sobre m (plural sobres)

1. envelope
2. small packet; sachet

Derived terms

• sobre de primer día

Descendants

• Chavacano: sobre
• Hiligaynon: sobre
• Tagalog: sobre

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

sobre

1. inflection of sobrar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative

Further reading

• “sobre”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10

Swedish

Adjective

sobre

1. definite natural masculine singular of sober

Anagrams

• sober

Tagalog

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish sobre.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈsobɾe/ [ˈsob.ɾɛ]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -obɾe
• Syllabification: sob‧re

Noun

sobre (Baybayin spelling ᜐᜓᜊ᜔ᜇᜒ)

1. envelope

Derived terms

• ipasobre
• isobre
• magpasobre
• magsobre
• sobrehan

Related terms

• sobra
• sobrado
• sobrante
• sobrekama
• sobrekarga
• sobrenatural
• sobrepaga
• sobrepalda
• sobresalyente

Further reading

• “sobre”, in KWF Diksiyonaryo ng Wikang Filipino, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2024
• “sobre”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018

Yogad

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish sobre (“envelope”).

Noun

sobre

1. envelope