Usage Note
Sonreír conjugates exactly like reír: the stem vowel changes from e to í in most forms (sonrío, sonríes, sonríe; subjunctive sonría) and the preterite has no diphthong (sonrió, sonrieron). The related noun is sonrisa (smile). Unlike English 'smile at', Spanish uses sonreírle a alguien with an indirect object pronoun: le sonrió (he smiled at her/him).
Examples
"Sonrió al ver a su amigo."
Natural Translation
She smiled when she saw her friend.

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