Oír: to hear
Pronunciation: oh-EER (stress the capital letters)
Oír means “to hear” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to hear
- How to say it: oh-EER
- Present: yo oigo, tú oyes
- Level: Elementary (A2)
What “oír” means and how to use it
Oír means “to hear.” It describes sounds that reach you without effort, while escuchar means to listen on purpose.
How to conjugate “oír”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | oigo | I |
| tú | oyes | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | oye | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | oímos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | oyen | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo oí, él oyó | I / he or she |
| Past participle | oído | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Oigo música desde mi cuarto.I hear music from my room.
- ¿Me oyes bien?Can you hear me well?
- No oí el teléfono.I did not hear the phone.
Usage tip
Oír is irregular: oigo, oyes, oye. Use oír for hearing and escuchar for listening to. “Oye” is also an informal way to get someone’s attention: “Oye, ¿tienes tiempo?”
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to hear” in Spanish?
“to hear” in Spanish is “oír.” It is pronounced oh-EER, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “oír”?
Say oh-EER. 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 “oír”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “oí” and “él” is “oyó.” The past participle is “oído.”
Practice “oír” for free
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