In Spanish, the verb “to hear” is “oír”. It is an irregular verb, meaning that its conjugation does not follow the regular patterns of other verbs.
Conjugation of Oír
| Person | Present Tense | Preterite Tense | Imperfect Tense | Future Tense | Conditional Tense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | oigo | oí | oía | oiré | oiría |
| tú | oyes | oíste | oías | oirás | oirías |
| él/ella/usted | oye | oyó | oía | oirá | oiría |
| nosotros/nosotras | oímos | oímos | oíamos | oiremos | oiríamos |
| vosotros/vosotras | oís | oísteis | oíais | oiréis | oiríais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | oyen | oyeron | oían | oirán | oirían |
Examples of Oír in Use
- ¿Oyes ese ruido? (Do you hear that noise?)
- No oigo bien. (I don’t hear well.)
- ¿Qué estás oyendo? (What are you listening to?)
- Te oí decir que ibas a ir. (I heard you say you were going.)
- Ojalá pudiera oírlo cantar. (I wish I could hear him sing.)
Other Ways to Say “Hear” in Spanish
In addition to “oír”, there are a few other ways to say “hear” in Spanish. These include:
- Escuchar: This verb is more formal than “oír” and is often used in writing.
- Sentir: This verb means “to feel” or “to perceive” and can be used to describe hearing something.
- Entender: This verb means “to understand” and can be used to describe hearing something and understanding its meaning.
Tips for Learning to Hear in Spanish
If you are learning Spanish, here are a few tips for improving your ability to hear and understand spoken Spanish:
- Listen to native speakers. The best way to improve your listening skills is to listen to native speakers as much as possible. This can be done by watching Spanish-language movies and TV shows, listening to Spanish music, or talking to Spanish-speaking friends or colleagues.
- Use language learning apps. There are a number of language learning apps that can help you improve your listening skills. These apps often provide exercises that allow you to practice listening to and understanding spoken Spanish.
- Take a Spanish class. Taking a Spanish class is a great way to improve your listening skills in a structured and supportive environment. In a class, you will have the opportunity to practice listening to and understanding spoken Spanish with other students and your teacher.
Conclusion
Learning to hear in Spanish is an important part of becoming fluent in the language. By following the tips above, you can improve your listening skills and become more confident in your ability to understand spoken Spanish.