Escuchar: to listen, to hear
Pronunciation: ehs-koo-CHAHR (stress the capital letters)
Escuchar means “to listen, to hear” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to listen, to hear
- How to say it: ehs-koo-CHAHR
- Present: yo escucho, tú escuchas
- Level: Beginner (A1)
What “escuchar” means and how to use it
Escuchar means “to listen to” something on purpose. In Spanish you do not add “to”: escuchar música.
How to conjugate “escuchar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | escucho | I |
| tú | escuchas | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | escucha | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | escuchamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | escuchan | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo escuché, él escuchó | I / he or she |
| Past participle | escuchado | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Escucho música en el autobús.I listen to music on the bus.
- ¿Me escuchas?Can you hear me?
- Escuchamos las noticias por la radio.We listen to the news on the radio.
Usage tip
Use escuchar for listening to something and oír for sounds that reach you without effort. In practice, “¿me escuchas?” works for “can you hear me?”
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to listen, to hear” in Spanish?
“to listen, to hear” in Spanish is “escuchar.” It is pronounced ehs-koo-CHAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “escuchar”?
Say ehs-koo-CHAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “escuchar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “escuché” and “él” is “escuchó.” The past participle is “escuchado.”
Practice “escuchar” for free
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