Écouter and entendre are two French verbs related to the act of perceiving sound, but they have different meanings and usages. Écouter means "to listen," implying a deliberate action, while entendre means "to hear," referring to the passive perception of sound.
Meaning
The main difference between écouter and entendre is about intention and attention:
- Écouter = "to listen" → actively paying attention to a sound
- Entendre = "to hear" → passively perceiving a sound without necessarily paying attention
Usage of Écouter
- Used when someone is deliberately choosing to listen
- Often followed by a direct object (the thing or person being listened to)
- Can be used with prepositions, e.g., écouter la radio, écouter quelqu’un
Examples:
- J’écoute de la musique. (I am listening to music.)
- Écoute-moi ! (Listen to me!)
- Elle écoute la radio tous les matins. (She listens to the radio every morning.)
Usage of Entendre
- Used for the passive act of hearing something, whether or not one is paying attention
- Usually followed directly by the sound or source
- Can also be used in a figurative sense (e.g., entendre parler de quelque chose)
Examples:
- J’entends un bruit bizarre. (I hear a strange noise.)
- Tu m’entends ? (Can you hear me?)
- J’ai entendu parler de ce film. (I heard about this movie.)
Complete: I heard about this movie. → J’_____ parler de ce film.
ai entendu
Dans le sens figuré, **entendre parler de quelque chose** signifie apprendre passivement une information.
Summary
| Écouter | Entendre |
|---|---|
| to listen (actively) | to hear (passively) |
| requires attention and intention | can happen without intention |
| followed by what is being listened to | followed by what is being heard |
| Ex: J’écoute la musique. (I listen to music.) | Ex: J’entends de la musique. (I hear music.) |
In short:
- If you choose to focus on a sound, use écouter.
- If a sound reaches your ears without conscious effort, use entendre.
Fill in the blanks: If you choose to focus on a sound, use _____. If a sound reaches your ears without conscious effort, use _____.
écouter; entendre
The rule is simple: **écouter** for active focus, **entendre** for passive perception.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
