Oír is the Spanish verb for to hear, capturing the sensory experience of perceiving sound. It's highly irregular and essential for everyday communication, especially in contexts involving listening to music, conversations, or announcements.
- Meaning: to hear (not to be confused with escuchar, which means to listen)
- Type: Irregular verb with unique stem changes and distinct conjugations
- Usage: Used when something is heard involuntarily or naturally
Oír means 'to hear' in English.
Present Tense: Oír
In the present tense, oír is highly irregular and undergoes stem changes. It is commonly used to express hearing something in the real-time moment.
| Subject | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | Oigo | I hear |
| Tú | Oyes | You hear |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | Oye | He/She/You (formal) hear(s) |
| Nosotros | Oímos | We hear |
| Vosotros | Oís | You all hear |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | Oyen | They/You all hear |
- Stem changes: oi → oig (yo), oyes, oye, oímos, oís, oyen
The correct 'yo' form of 'oír' is 'oigo'.
Preterite Tense: Oír
The preterite conjugation of oír is also irregular, and it includes accent marks and a 'y' in the third person.
| Subject | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | Oí | I heard |
| Tú | Oíste | You heard |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | Oyó | He/She/You heard |
| Nosotros | Oímos | We heard |
| Vosotros | Oísteis | You all heard |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | Oyeron | They/You all heard |
- Notice the 'y' in oyó and oyeron, which is typical for verbs like oír in preterite.
The correct form is 'oyó'.
Imperfect Tense: Oír
The imperfect conjugation uses the regular pattern for -ir verbs and is used for ongoing or repeated past actions.
| Subject | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | Oía | I/he/she used to hear / was hearing |
| Tú | Oías | You used to hear |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | Oía | He/She/You used to hear |
| Nosotros | Oíamos | We used to hear |
| Vosotros | Oíais | You all used to hear |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | Oían | They used to hear |
- Regular stem here: oi- + imperfect endings (-ía, -ías, -ía, etc.)
Future Tense: Oír
The future tense is formed regularly by adding endings directly to the infinitive oír.
| Subject | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | Oiré | I will hear |
| Tú | Oirás | You will hear |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | Oirá | He/She/You will hear |
| Nosotros | Oiremos | We will hear |
| Vosotros | Oiréis | You all will hear |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | Oirán | They/You all will hear |
- Future endings: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án
The correct form is 'Oirán'.
Summary
Oír is an essential but irregular verb meaning to hear, used for sensing sounds. It features unique conjugations in multiple tenses, especially the present and preterite.
- Oír = to hear (not to be confused with escuchar, to listen)
- Irregular conjugations in present (oigo, oyes, oye...) and preterite (oí, oíste, oyó, oyeron)
- Regular patterns for imperfect (oía...) and future (oiré...)
'Oimo' is not a correct conjugation of 'oír'.
Oír = to hear; Escuchar = to listen.
Nosotros: 'oímos'; Ellos: 'oyen'.
Preterite forms include 'oyó' and 'oyeron' with stem alteration.
Use imperfect for 'used to hear': 'Yo oía música.'
Future: Oiré, Oirás, Oirá, Oiremos, Oiréis, Oirán.