it sounds familiar vs It sounds similar

Both phrases are correct, but 'It sounds familiar' is used when something is recognized or known, while 'It sounds similar' is used when something resembles or is comparable to something else.

Explained by Michele A.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: March 17, 2025 • 5614 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express recognition or familiarity with something.

"it sounds familiar"

This phrase is used when you recognize or are familiar with something, such as a sound, a voice, or a piece of music.

Examples:

The melody sounds familiar, but I can't remember the name of the song.
Her voice sounds familiar, but I can't place where I've heard it before.

Show examples from the web [+]

I don't recall a patient with that name, but it sounds familiar.
FOR SOME REASON IT SOUNDS FAMILIAR.
I mean, it sounds familiar, but that's not the point.
And it's weird, but it sounds familiar, so I jog a little closer and I see this truck, this ice-cream truck.
It sounds familiar, a bit like Berber.
It sounds familiar, a bit like Berber.

Alternatives:

It seems familiar
It rings a bell
It's recognizable

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that something resembles or is comparable to something else.

"It sounds similar"

This phrase is used when you want to say that something has a resemblance or similarity to something else, such as two songs or two voices.

Examples:

The new song sounds similar to a classic hit from the 80s.
Their voices sound similar, making it hard to tell them apart.

Show examples from the web [+]

I have to say on the surface it sounds remarkably similar.
When I think about it. your voice sounds similar to his.
We rehearsed so much that we could've recorded it live and it would sound somewhat similar to the way it does on the album.
Okay, yes, they do sound similar.
They certainly play a lot of songs that sound similar.
Some people, I would never relate, but they sound similar.
This sounds similar to a cold case from 15 years ago,
I'll teach you to say something that sounds similar!
Well, all music sounds similar, right?
Mordor actually sounds similar to "morthor" in Anglo-Saxon, which means "morth," or it means a murderer.
The sound should be easily indicative of vehicle behaviour and should sound similar to the sound of a vehicle of the same category equipped with an internal combustion engine.
My sincerity and sarcasm sound shockingly similar.
That sounds remarkably similar to what the Captain described.
Yes, sir. That's why I sound very similar to you.
For a woman obsessed with Chinese conspiracies... you sound frighteningly similar to the government you're trying to stop.
This sounds very similar to what you were saying 20 years ago.
They have similar sound of eyes.
You know, that sounds very similar to something that Bay said to me right before we stopped being friends.
Although, despite the similar sound, "bouvier" means ox, not beaver.
From the calls, they sound drug-fueled, similar to what Franco and I ran into in that rental house.

Alternatives:

It resembles
It's akin to
It's like

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it sounds familiar vs It sounds similar

"it sounds familiar"

"It sounds similar"

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