Meaning and Usage
The verb oír means to hear in English. It is used to express the act of perceiving sound with the ears. Oír can also imply listening or becoming aware of something audibly. This verb is irregular and important to know because it frequently appears in everyday conversation.
Present Tense Conjugation
In the present tense, oír has irregular forms that differ notably from regular -ir verbs. It's essential to memorize these to use the verb correctly when speaking about something you are hearing happening now or habitually.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | oigo | I hear | Yo oigo música. | I hear music. |
| tú | oyes | you hear | ¿Tú oyes el ruido? | Do you hear the noise? |
| él / ella / usted | oye | he/she/you (formal) hears | Ella oye la noticia. | She hears the news. |
| nosotros/as | oímos | we hear | Nosotros oímos la canción. | We hear the song. |
| vosotros/as | oís | you all hear | Vosotros oís la alarma. | You all hear the alarm. |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | oyen | they/you all hear | Ellos oyen voces extrañas. | They hear strange voices. |
Preterite Tense Conjugation
The preterite indicates completed actions in the past, and oír changes its stem and letters due to its irregularity.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | oí | I heard | Yo oí un ruido anoche. | I heard a noise last night. |
| tú | oíste | you heard | Tú oíste la conversación. | You heard the conversation. |
| él / ella / usted | oyó | he/she/you heard | Él oyó el anuncio. | He heard the announcement. |
| nosotros/as | oímos | we heard | Nosotros oímos la música. | We heard the music. |
| vosotros/as | oísteis | you all heard | Vosotros oísteis el ruido. | You all heard the noise. |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | oyeron | they/you all heard | Ellos oyeron el disco. | They heard the record. |
Imperative Mood
The imperative mood is used for commands or requests. For oír, the imperative forms have irregularities, especially in the negative form for tú.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tú (affirmative) | oye | hear (you) | Oye eso. | Hear that. |
| tú (negative) | no oigas | don't hear (you) | No oigas rumores. | Don't hear rumors. |
| usted | oiga | hear (you formal) | Oiga bien las instrucciones. | Hear the instructions well. |
| nosotros/as | oigamos | let's hear | Oigamos la noticia. | Let's hear the news. |
| vosotros/as | oíd | hear (you all) | Oíd la canción. | Hear the song. |
| ustedes | oigan | hear (you all formal) | Oigan con atención. | Hear attentively. |
Common Expressions with Oír
- Oír hablar de – to hear about something or someone.
- Oír decir que – to hear it said that or to hear that.
- No oír ni jota – to not hear a word / to ignore completely.
These expressions add fluency to conversation and show typical usage contexts of oír beyond literal hearing.
Summary
The verb oír is essential in Spanish, mostly because it is irregular but very common. Knowing its conjugations and expressions will help you communicate effectively about auditory experiences. Practice the present and preterite forms carefully, and use the imperative forms confidently for commands.
