Écouter vs. Entendre: a comprehensive guide to understanding the difference between the French verbs for ‘to listen’ (écouter) and ‘to hear’ (entendre), including meanings, usage, examples, and more.
In French, both écouter and entendre relate to perceiving sound, but they are used in different contexts. Écouter means “to listen”, implying that you are actively paying attention to the sound. Entendre means “to hear”, referring to the passive ability to perceive sound without necessarily focusing on it. Understanding this difference is key to using the verbs correctly.
Meanings
- Écouter: to listen, pay attention to a sound on purpose
- Entendre: to hear, perceive a sound passively or involuntarily
Which verb would you use in French to describe paying attention to music intentionally?
écouter
'écouter' is used when someone is intentionally focusing on a sound, such as music.
Usage
- Use écouter when someone is intentionally focusing on a sound, music, a person speaking, etc.
- Use entendre when a sound reaches your ears without you actively trying to listen (or when you just notice it).
Examples
Active Listening (écouter)
- J’écoute de la musique classique.* → I’m listening to classical music.
- Écoute-moi, s’il te plaît !* → Listen to me, please!
- Elle écoute attentivement le professeur.* → She listens attentively to the teacher.
Passive Hearing (entendre)
- J’entends un bruit bizarre.* → I hear a strange noise.
- As-tu entendu les dernières nouvelles ?* → Have you heard the latest news?
- Je n’ai pas entendu ce que tu as dit.* → I didn’t hear what you said.
Contexts
- écouter is often followed by de la musique, une chanson, quelqu’un, or un enregistrement (listening to music, a song, someone, or a recording).
- entendre can stand alone or be followed by a bruit (noise), une voix (voice), or une conversation (conversation).
Common Mistakes
- Don’t use entendre when someone is actively paying attention (use écouter).
- J’entends la radio. (wrong if you’re actively listening)
- J’écoute la radio. (correct)
- Don’t use écouter for sounds you just happen to notice without trying.
Summary
| Aspect | Écouter | Entendre |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | to listen (active) | to hear (passive) |
| Intent | deliberate attention | passive perception |
| Common Objects | la musique, quelqu’un, un enregistrement | un bruit, une voix, une conversation |
| Example | J’écoute la radio. | J’entends la radio. |
Which objects are commonly associated with 'écouter'?
la musique, quelqu’un, un enregistrement
'écouter' is used with music, someone speaking, or recordings.
Congratulations!
You now understand the difference between écouter and entendre.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
