Descubre la diferencia entre mirar y ver en español: cuándo enfocarte en mirar y cuándo simplemente ver, con ejemplos claros y uso práctico.
Discover the difference between mirar and ver in Spanish: when to focus on looking and when to simply see, with clear examples and practical usage.
In Spanish mirar and ver both relate to vision but highlight different kinds of attention: mirar is to deliberately look at something, while ver is to see something more passively.
Ver
Use ver for noticing or perceiving something with the eyes, often without effort; it describes the general ability to see or when something comes into view.
Examples
Usa ver para notar o percibir algo con los ojos, a menudo sin esfuerzo; describe la capacidad general de ver o cuando algo aparece en la vista.
Ejemplos
You can see the mountain from here.
Mirar
Use mirar for directing your gaze intentionally at something; it implies paying attention and can be followed by what you look at.
Examples
Usa mirar para dirigir intencionadamente la mirada hacia algo; implica prestar atención y puede ir seguido de lo que miras.
Ejemplos
Please, look at the screen carefully.
Additional Expressions
Spanish has related verbs and phrases for different nuances: fijarse en means to notice carefully, ver is general seeing, and mirar is deliberate looking.
Examples
When you visit a museum, try to notice the details of the painting.
Summary
Use ver for passive seeing and mirar for active looking; choose each verb to match whether attention is deliberate or incidental.
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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