Spoken Description

Descubre la diferencia entre mirar y ver en español: cuándo enfocarte en mirar y cuándo simplemente ver, con ejemplos claros y uso práctico.

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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

Se puedela montaña desde aquí.

You can see the mountain from here.

... (see) la montaña desde aquí.

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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

Por favor,la pantalla con atención.

Please, look at the screen carefully.

... (look at) la pantalla con atención.

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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

Cuando visitas un museo, intentaen los detalles del cuadro.

When you visit a museum, try to notice the details of the painting.

... (notice) en los detalles del cuadro.

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Summary

Use ver for passive seeing and mirar for active looking; choose each verb to match whether attention is deliberate or incidental.

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