In Spanish, two verbs express the ideas of hearing and listening: oír and escuchar. While both involve perceiving sound, they are not interchangeable. Oír means "to hear" and refers to the automatic, passive perception of sound. Escuchar means "to listen" and implies actively paying attention.
- Oír: to hear (passive, automatic)
- Escuchar: to listen (active, intentional)
'Oír' means 'to hear' and 'escuchar' means 'to listen.'
When to Use Oír
Use oír for sounds that are perceived without effort—when you "hear" something in the background or by chance.
- Describes natural, involuntary hearing
- Often refers to sounds you just "catch"
Example:
- Oigo música. — I hear music (whether or not I’m paying attention).
'oír' is used for passive, not active, sound perception.
When to Use Escuchar
Use escuchar when you deliberately focus on sounds—when you "listen" to someone speaking or pay attention to music.
- Requires active attention
- Used for listening to speeches, instructions, music, etc.
Example:
- Escucho la radio. — I listen to the radio (with attention).
'escuchar' is used when you actively listen or pay attention to sounds.
Quick Comparison
| Verb | Meaning | Use | Example (I...) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oír | To hear | Passive perception | Oigo voces. |
| Escuchar | To listen | Active attention | Escucho voces. |
'escuchar' is used for active listening.
Practice
- Choose the correct verb (oír or escuchar) for situations when you either accidentally hear a song playing in a store or you concentrate on understanding a podcast.
- Translate and explain the difference between:
a) No oigo bien.
b) No escucho bien.
- Write two sentences in Spanish: one using oír and one using escuchar, about hearing/listening to the same thing (e.g., the news).
Conclusion
Oír and escuchar distinguish between passive hearing and active listening in Spanish, reflecting how we engage with sounds differently.
- Oír = to hear (passive)
- Escuchar = to listen (active)