In Spanish, escuchar means “to listen” (actively paying attention), while oír means “to hear” (perceiving sound passively). Escuchar implies intention, whereas oír simply means perceiving sounds without focus.
Usage Rules
- Use escuchar when someone is deliberately trying to hear something.
- Use oír when sound is noticed unintentionally or in the background.
- Escuchar is typically followed by “a” when referring to people (e.g., escuchar a alguien).
- Oír does not require “a” before people (e.g., oír a alguien is correct, but oír alguien is not).
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Escucho música todos los días. | I listen to music every day. |
| Oigo ruidos extraños por la noche. | I hear strange noises at night. |
| Escucho a mi profesor con atención. | I listen to my teacher carefully. |
| Oí que vienen de viaje mañana. | I heard that they are coming on a trip tomorrow. |
Oí que vienen de viaje mañana.
I heard that they are coming on a trip tomorrow.
"Oír que..." is a common way to say "I heard that..." in Spanish, indicating you caught some information.
Oigo ruidos extraños por la noche.
I hear strange noises at night.
'Oír' means to hear (passively), so the sentence describes noticing noises without necessarily paying attention.
Summary
- Escuchar = “to listen” (active and intentional)
- Oír = “to hear” (passive and unintentional)
- “a” is used with escuchar before people, and can also be used with oír before people.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- English Translation: I listen to music every day.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
