Escuchar vs Oír – To Listen vs To Hear
Descubre la diferencia entre escuchar y oír en español. Explicaciones claras, ejemplos prácticos y consejos para usar cada verbo según contexto, intención y atención al audio.
Discover the difference between listening and hearing in Spanish. Clear explanations, practical examples, and tips to use each verb depending on context, intention and attention to the audio.
In Spanish, escuchar and oír both relate to sound but differ in attention and intention: use escuchar when you deliberately listen, and oír when sounds reach you more passively.
Escuchar
Use escuchar for paying attention to sounds or someone speaking; it implies effort or intention to hear something specific.
Usa escuchar para prestar atención a los sonidos o a alguien que habla; implica esfuerzo o intención de escuchar algo específico.
I always listen to music in the morning.
Oír
Use oír for perceiving sounds without necessarily focusing on them; it describes the passive reception of noise or voices.
Usa oír para percibir sonidos sin necesidad de enfocarse en ellos; describe la recepción pasiva del ruido o las voces.
Do you hear those noises outside?
Signal Words
Signal words for escuchar often relate to intention or duration, while words for oír tie to accidental or brief hearing.
Summary
Remember: use escuchar for active listening and oír for passive hearing; choosing the right verb highlights whether attention was paid.
I want to listen to the podcast when I have time.
Suggested Reading
Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Spanish by Dorothy Richmond
No Nonsense Spanish Workbook by Eric W. Vogt & My Daily Spanish
The Everything Learning Spanish Book by Julie Gutin
Collins Easy Learning: Spanish Conversation by Collins Dictionaries
Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Conversation by Jean Yates
Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish by Margarita Madrigal
Spanish All-In-One For Dummies by Susana Wald & Cecie Kraynak
Easy Spanish Step-By-Step by Barbara Bregstein
Barron’s 501 Spanish Verbs by Christopher Kendris and Theodore Kendris
Complete Spanish Step-By-Step by Barbara Bregstein
Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish Grammar by Gilda Nissenberg
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