escuchan
es-KOO-chahn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Los niños escuchan un cuento antes de dormir.
A1The children listen to a story before sleeping.
Ustedes escuchan música muy fuerte en el coche.
A2You (plural formal) listen to music very loudly in the car.
Es importante que me escuchen cuando hablo de seguridad.
B1It is important that they listen to me when I talk about safety. (Special verb form)
¡Escuchen! Hay un anuncio urgente.
A2Listen! There is an urgent announcement. (Command form)
💡 Grammar Points
Three Roles of 'Escuchan'
This single form means three things: 1. 'They listen' (statement), 2. 'You (plural formal) listen' (statement), or 3. 'That they/you listen' (a special verb form used after expressions of desire or doubt, like 'Quiero que...').
Active Listening
Use escuchar when someone is actively paying attention (listening). Use oír when sound simply reaches your ears (hearing). 'Escuchan' implies effort.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Listening to 'To'
Mistake: "Using 'escuchan a' before an object that isn't a person, e.g., 'Escuchan a la radio.'"
Correction: Unlike English, you don't need the preposition 'a' before things: 'Escuchan la radio.' Only use 'a' before people: 'Escuchan a sus padres.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Present Continuous
If you want to emphasize that they are listening right now, you can say 'Están escuchando.' However, 'escuchan' works perfectly fine for ongoing actions too.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: escuchan
Question 1 of 1
If you are addressing a group of teachers formally, which meaning of 'escuchan' are you most likely using?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'escuchan' mean both 'they listen' and 'you listen'?
'Escuchan' is the third-person plural form. In Spanish, the formal plural 'you' (ustedes) shares the same verb ending as 'they' (ellos/ellas). You rely on context or the use of the pronoun (ustedes) to know who is listening.
How do I know if 'escuchan' is a statement or a command?
If it's a command, it is usually at the beginning of the phrase and often accompanied by exclamation marks or words like 'por favor' (please). If it is part of a longer sentence starting with 'Quiero que...' or 'Espero que...', it is the special verb form (subjunctive).