A detailed comparison of mirar and observar, including meanings, usage, example sentences, and conjugation tables to clarify how to use these Spanish verbs correctly.
Understanding the difference between mirar and observar is key to expressing how we look at things in Spanish. Mirar means “to look” or “to watch” and is used for directing your eyes at something, often briefly or casually. Observar means “to observe” and implies looking carefully or studying something with attention. This guide explains the meanings, usage, and gives example sentences to help you use these verbs naturally.
Meanings
Mirar means to direct your eyes at something, look at, or watch. It’s a general verb for looking and can be casual or intentional.
Observar means to look carefully, study, or notice details. It’s more focused and deliberate, often used when paying close attention or analyzing something.
- Mirar = to look at, to watch (general, can be brief)
- Observar = to observe, to examine, to study (careful, intentional)
- Mirar is more common in everyday conversation
- Observar is used in formal contexts, science, or when describing careful attention
Usage
Mirar is used when simply looking at something, watching TV, or glancing around. It does not imply deep attention.
Observar is used when describing careful watching, studying behavior, or noticing details that others might miss.
- Mirar + direct object or mirar hacia (look towards)
- Observar + direct object (something being carefully watched)
- Use observar for descriptions, reports, or scientific contexts
- Use mirar in daily life for simple looking or watching
How do you express 'look towards the left' using the verb 'mirar'?
mirar hacia la izquierda
With mirar, the preposition 'hacia' is used to indicate direction (mirar hacia la izquierda). Observar does not use 'hacia'.
Examples
| Mirar (to look) | Observar (to observe) |
|---|---|
| Mira la ventana. | Observa la ventana con cuidado. |
| (Look at the window.) | (Observe the window carefully.) |
| Estoy mirando la televisión. | Estoy observando el comportamiento de los niños. |
| (I’m watching TV.) | (I’m observing the children’s behavior.) |
| Él mira hacia el cielo. | Ella observa las estrellas. |
| (He looks toward the sky.) | (She observes the stars.) |
Common Expressions
Here are some common phrases with mirar and observar:
Mirar
- mirar a alguien (look at someone)
- mirar fijamente (stare)
- mirar por la ventana (look out the window)
- mirar hacia arriba/abajo (look up/down)
Observar
- observar con atención (observe carefully)
- observar los detalles (notice the details)
- observar el comportamiento (observe the behavior)
- observar en silencio (observe silently)
What is the meaning of 'mirar fijamente'?
to stare
'mirar fijamente' means to stare, i.e., look intently or without turning away.
Grammar Notes
- Both verbs are regular in all tenses (except for some irregular forms in mirar like the gerund mirando).
- Use the preposition hacia with mirar to indicate direction (mirar hacia la izquierda).
- Observar does not require a preposition; it takes a direct object.
Conjugation Comparison of Mirar vs. Observar
Here are the present simple and preterite (past) tense conjugations with example sentences:
| Spanish Subject | Mirar (to look) | Observar (to observe) | Mirar Example | Observar Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | miro | observo | Yo miro la pantalla. | Yo observo la pantalla. |
| (I look at the screen.) | (I observe the screen.) | |||
| tú | miras | observas | Tú miras la pintura. | Tú observas la pintura. |
| (You look at the painting.) | (You observe the painting.) | |||
| él/ella | mira | observa | Ella mira al niño. | Ella observa al niño. |
| (She looks at the child.) | (She observes the child.) | |||
| nosotros/as | miramos | observamos | Miramos el partido. | Observamos el partido. |
| (We watch the game.) | (We observe the game.) | |||
| ellos/as | miran | observan | Ellos miran el reloj. | Ellos observan el reloj. |
| (They look at the clock.) | (They observe the clock.) |
Preterite (Past) Tense:
| Spanish Subject | Mirar (looked) | Observar (observed) | Mirar Example | Observar Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | miré | observé | Yo miré el documental. | Yo observé el documental. |
| (I watched the documentary.) | (I observed the documentary.) | |||
| tú | miraste | observaste | Tú miraste el accidente. | Tú observaste el accidente. |
| (You watched the accident.) | (You observed the accident.) | |||
| él/ella | miró | observó | Él miró el paisaje. | Él observó el paisaje. |
| (He looked at the landscape.) | (He observed the landscape.) |
Summary
- Use mirar for general looking, watching, or glancing. It’s neutral and common in everyday speech.
- Use observar when you want to express careful, deliberate attention or study. It’s more formal and precise.
- Pay attention to context: mirar = casual/simple, observar = careful/analytical.
- Both verbs are regular, so focus on meaning and usage rather than complex conjugations.
By understanding this difference, you can describe how you look at the world with greater nuance and accuracy in Spanish!
Last updated: Thu Jun 5, 2025
