oír
Lemma Details
Translation: to hear; to listen; to listen to; to heed
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Oír comes from Latin 'audire' (to hear), which is also the source of English words like 'audible', 'audience', and 'auditory'. The Latin root underwent significant phonetic changes as it evolved into Spanish, with the initial 'au-' becoming 'o-' and the medial '-d-' disappearing. This pattern of sound change is seen in other Spanish words derived from Latin words with 'au', such as 'oro' from 'aurum' (gold).
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
No puedo oír nada con este ruido.
I can't hear anything with this noise.
¿Oyes ese sonido extraño?
Do you hear that strange sound?
Nunca he oído hablar de él.
I've never heard of him.
Me gusta oír música clásica.
I like to listen to classical music.
Oí que vas a mudarte.
I heard that you're going to move.
Mnemonics
- Think of saying 'Oh, ear!' when you hear something surprising - 'oír' is about hearing with your ears.
- The word 'oír' sounds a bit like 'oh, here' - imagine saying this when you hear something approaching.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'oír' is often used in expressions related to religious contexts, such as 'oír misa' (to attend mass). There's also a distinction between 'oír' (to hear, more passive) and 'escuchar' (to listen, more active) that's important in everyday communication.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both mean to perceive sound, 'oír' is more passive (to hear), whereas 'escuchar' implies active attention (to listen).
Notes: In many contexts, these verbs can be interchangeable, but using the right one shows nuance in your Spanish.
Mnemonic: 'Oír' is shorter and simpler, like the passive act of hearing; 'escuchar' is longer, like taking the time to actively listen.
Explanation: 'Oír' (to hear) has an 'o' at the beginning, while 'ir' means 'to go' and is much shorter.
Confused word:
Vamos a ir al cine.
We're going to go to the movies.
Notes: These are easily confused by beginners because they look similar and both are irregular verbs.
Mnemonic: Add an 'O' to 'ir' and you get 'oír' - you need your ears (O's look like ears) to hear.