The English verbs to listen and to hear both relate to perceiving sound but differ in meaning and usage.
- Listen means to pay attention and focus on sounds intentionally.
- Hear means to notice or become aware of sounds passively, without trying.
- Use listen to (always with “to”) for active listening, and simply hear for passive hearing.
Usage of “to listen”
“To listen” means to pay attention to sounds on purpose. It requires effort and focus.
- Always followed by “to” when indicating what you are listening to (e.g., listen to music).
- Emphasizes concentration and intention.
- Can be used with people, music, sounds, etc.
Examples
| English Singular | English Plural | English Negative | English Question | Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | Spanish Negative | Spanish Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I listen to music. | We listen to music. | I don’t listen to music. | Do you listen to music? | Yo escucho música. | Nosotros escuchamos música. | Yo no escucho música. | ¿Tú escuchas música? |
| She listens to the teacher. | They listen to the teacher. | She doesn’t listen to the teacher. | Does she listen to the teacher? | Ella escucha a la profesora. | Ellos escuchan a la profesora. | Ella no escucha a la profesora. | ¿Ella escucha a la profesora? |
| He listens to the radio. | You listen to the radio. | He doesn’t listen to the radio. | Do you listen to the radio? | Él escucha la radio. | Tú escuchas la radio. | Él no escucha la radio. | ¿Tú escuchas la radio? |
Usage Notes
- Use “listen to” + noun/pronoun (listening to someone/something).
- Indicates active, purposeful listening.
Usage of “to hear”
“to hear” means to notice or become aware of sounds, usually without trying.
- Does not require prepositions (e.g., hear a noise).
- Can be used for accidental, passive, or unexpected sounds.
- Also used in non-literal senses: “I heard that…” (I was told...).
Examples
| English Singular | English Plural | English Negative | English Question | Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | Spanish Negative | Spanish Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I hear a noise. | We hear noises. | I don’t hear a noise. | Do you hear a noise? | Yo oigo un ruido. | Nosotros oímos ruidos. | Yo no oigo un ruido. | ¿Tú oyes un ruido? |
| She hears the door. | They hear the door. | She doesn’t hear the door. | Does she hear the door? | Ella oye la puerta. | Ellos oyen la puerta. | Ella no oye la puerta. | ¿Ella oye la puerta? |
| He hears a shout. | You hear shouts. | He doesn’t hear a shout. | Do you hear shouts? | Él oye un grito. | Tú oyes gritos. | Él no oye un grito. | ¿Tú oyes gritos? |
Usage Notes
- Use “hear” + noun directly (no preposition).
- Can imply passive or accidental perception.
Translate this English sentence into Spanish: She hears the door closing.
Ella oye la puerta cerrarse.
The correct translation is “Ella oye la puerta cerrarse.” using oír (to hear) directly with the noun.
If you accidentally notice a shout, which sentence is correct?
I hear a shout.
“Hear” is used for passive or accidental perception and does not require “to.” The correct sentence is “I hear a shout.”
Summary
| to listen | to hear |
|---|---|
| to pay attention to sounds on purpose | to become aware of sounds passively or accidentally |
| always followed by “to” when indicating what is listened to | no preposition needed |
| implies effort and focus | implies passive or unintended perception |
Quick Tips
- Use listen to when you mean someone is trying to pay attention.
- Use hear when someone simply notices a sound, even without trying.
Example Dialogue
Context: Two friends talking about a noisy party.
A: Did you listen to the music last night?
B: No, I just heard it from my room. I didn’t really listen.
- listen = actively paying attention
- heard = noticed the sound passively
Closing
- to listen = intentional, active ear
- to hear = unintentional, passive ear
Now you can use both verbs correctly and confidently in your English conversations!
Flashcards (1 of 6)
- English Singular: I listen to music.
- English Plural: We listen to music.
- English Negative: I don’t listen to music.
- English Question: Do you listen to music?
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
