escuchar
“escuchar” means “to listen to” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to listen to
Also: to hear
📝 In Action
Me gusta escuchar música cuando estudio.
A1I like to listen to music when I study.
¿Escuchas la radio por la mañana?
A1Do you listen to the radio in the morning?
Por favor, habla más alto, no te escucho bien.
A2Please, speak louder, I can't hear you well.
to heed
Also: to pay attention to, to listen to
📝 In Action
Si hubieras escuchado mi consejo, no estarías en esta situación.
B2If you had heeded my advice, you wouldn't be in this situation.
A veces es importante parar y escuchar tu corazón.
B1Sometimes it's important to stop and listen to your heart.
El gobierno necesita escuchar las preocupaciones de los ciudadanos.
B2The government needs to listen to the concerns of its citizens.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: escuchar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'escuchar' to mean 'to heed' or 'to follow advice'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'auscultāre', which meant 'to listen to attentively'. This is the same root as the English medical term 'auscultate', which means to listen to the internal sounds of the body.
First recorded: Around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'escuchar' and 'oír'?
'Escuchar' is an action you choose to do; it means 'to listen'. It requires your attention. 'Oír' is a sense, like seeing or smelling; it means 'to hear'. It's what happens when sound waves reach your ears, whether you're paying attention or not. If you're enjoying a song, you 'escuchas música'. If a loud car passes by, you 'oyes un coche'.
Do I always need to add 'a' when I listen to someone?
It's very common and sounds most natural. When you're listening to a specific person or people, use 'a'. For example, 'Escucho a mi hermana' (I'm listening to my sister). If you're talking about listening in general, you might not need it, but when in doubt, using 'a' for people is a safe bet.