Mirar vs Ver – Look vs See
In Spanish, mirar and ver both relate to perceiving with the eyes, but they differ in intent and attention. This short guide explains when to use each verb with clear examples.
Ver
Use ver for noticing or perceiving something without necessarily paying attention. It describes the passive act of seeing when something crosses your field of vision.
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Veo las luces de la ciudad desde aquí. | I see the city lights from here. |
| 🚗 Vi un accidente en la esquina. | I saw an accident on the corner. |
| 🐦 Veo pájaros volando sobre el parque. | I see birds flying over the park. |
| 🌟 Anoche vi muchas estrellas brillando. | Last night I saw many shining stars. |
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Mirar
Use mirar when you direct your gaze intentionally at something. It implies attention or purpose in looking, like when you watch, examine, or focus on an object or scene.
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🔭 Miro las estrellas con el telescopio. | I look at the stars with the telescope. |
| 🗺️ Miramos el mapa para encontrar el camino. | We look at the map to find the way. |
| 🖼️ Ella mira las pinturas en la galería. | She looks at the paintings in the gallery. |
| 📷 Mira la cámara y sonríe. | Look at the camera and smile. |
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Ver vs Mirar
Think of ver as the difference between catching sight of something and mirar as deliberately directing your eyes. Use ver for involuntary perception and mirar for intentional observation.
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 👀 Veo luces encendidas en la casa. | I see lights on in the house. | Passive perception |
| 🔦 Miro la casa con una linterna. | I look at the house with a flashlight. | Active focusing |
| 🐶 Veo un perro corriendo por la calle. | I see a dog running down the street. | Notice dog |
| 🐕 Miro al perro que está en el parque. | I look at the dog that is in the park. | Direct gaze |
| 🗣️ Vi que llegaste tarde. | I saw that you arrived late. | Noticed fact |
| 👓 Mira lo que te traje. | Look at what I brought you. | Request to focus |
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Otros Usos: Ojo, Fijarse, and más
Related expressions like fijarse en (to notice or pay attention to), ojo (literally "eye" but used to warn or highlight), and echar un vistazo (to take a quick look) add nuance to talking about seeing and looking.
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Summary
Use ver for passive or accidental seeing and mirar for active, intentional looking. Remember that related phrases can fine-tune meaning between noticing, examining, and warning.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025