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A colorful illustration showing a small child sitting down, concentrating while holding a large pink seashell against their ear, suggesting the act of listening.

escuché

ess-koo-CHAY

Verb (Conjugated Form)A1regular ar
I listened?past completed action,I heard?past completed action
Also:I paid attention (to)?when referring to advice or instructions

Quick Reference

infinitiveescuchar
gerundescuchando
past Participleescuchado

📝 In Action

Anoche escuché un ruido muy extraño en el jardín.

A1

Last night I heard a very strange noise in the garden.

Escuché tu recomendación y compré ese libro.

A2

I listened to your recommendation and bought that book.

¿Qué dijiste? No te escuché bien.

A1

What did you say? I didn't hear you well.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • oí (I heard (involuntary action))
  • atendí (I paid attention)

Common Collocations

  • Escuché la radio – I listened to the radio
  • Escuché con atención – I listened carefully

💡 Grammar Points

The Simple Past Action

This form, 'escuché,' is used for actions that started and finished at a specific point in the past, like 'yesterday' or 'at 3 o'clock.' It describes a single event.

The Crucial Accent Mark

The accent on the 'é' is mandatory! It tells you that the action happened in the past, otherwise 'escuche' means 'I listen' (for desires) or 'listen!' (a command).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up Preterite and Imperfect

Mistake: "Usando 'escuchaba' (I used to listen) instead of 'escuché' (I listened once) for a specific completed event."

Correction: Use 'escuché' when talking about a clear, single finished event (e.g., 'I heard the bell ring'). Use 'escuchaba' for repeated or ongoing background actions.

⭐ Usage Tips

No Preposition Needed

In Spanish, you listen directly to something (escuchar algo/a alguien). You don't need a preposition like 'to' as in English: 'Escuché el podcast' is correct.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: escuché

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'escuché' for a single, completed past action?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

escuchar(to listen / to hear) - verb
la escucha(the act of listening) - noun
oyente(listener) - noun/adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'escuché' and 'oí'?

'Escuché' (from *escuchar*) means 'I listened' and implies intention and effort (you chose to pay attention). 'Oí' (from *oír*) means 'I heard' and is usually unintentional (a sound just entered your ears).

Why is 'escuché' spelled with an accent mark?

The accent mark on the 'e' is essential to indicate that this is the simple past tense ('I did it'). Without the accent ('escuche'), it would be the present subjunctive form, used for wishes or commands.