mira
/MEE-rah/
Just like pointing something out, '¡Mira!' is a friendly way to get someone's attention to look at something or to introduce an idea.
mira (Interjection)
📝 In Action
¡Mira! Un colibrí en el jardín.
A1Look! A hummingbird in the garden.
Mira, no creo que sea una buena idea ir tan tarde.
A2Look, I don't think it's a good idea to go so late.
Mira que te lo dije.
B1See, I told you so.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing it with a command
Mistake: "Thinking 'Mira, no quiero ir' means you are telling the person to physically look at something."
Correction: When it starts a sentence like this, 'Mira' is a filler word like 'Look' or 'Hey' in English, used to get attention before making a point. You don't actually need to look at anything.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Than Just 'Look'
Think of '¡Mira!' like 'Hey!' or 'Listen up!' in English. It's a super common way to start a sentence to get someone's attention, even if you're not pointing at something.
When you want a friend (tú) to look at something, you use the command '¡Mira!'. For example, '¡Mira esta concha!' (Look at this shell!).
mira (Verb)
📝 In Action
Mira este video, es muy gracioso.
A1Watch this video, it's very funny.
¡Mira por dónde caminas!
A2Watch where you're going!
Mira a ambos lados antes de cruzar la calle.
A1Look both ways before crossing the street.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
💡 Grammar Points
Giving Friendly Commands (Imperative)
This 'mira' is the command form for the familiar 'tú' (you). It's a simple, direct way to tell a friend to look at something. For someone you'd call 'usted' (formal you), you would say 'mire'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'a'
Mistake: "Mira el perro. Mira mi amigo."
Correction: When you're looking at a person or a pet, you need to add 'a'. So, it's 'Mira al perro' and 'Mira a mi amigo'. For objects, you don't need 'a': 'Mira la casa'.
This 'mira' describes what someone (he, she, or a formal you) is doing. For example, 'Ella mira el menú' (She looks at the menu).
mira (Verb)
📝 In Action
El gato mira por la ventana.
A1The cat looks out the window.
Mi abuela mira su telenovela todas las tardes.
A2My grandmother watches her soap opera every afternoon.
¿Qué mira usted con tanto interés?
B1What are you (formal) looking at with such interest?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
💡 Grammar Points
Describing What Someone Does (Present Tense)
'Mira' is used to say 'he looks,' 'she looks,' or 'you (formal) look.' The person doing the action determines the meaning. For example, 'Mi hermano mira por la ventana' (My brother looks out the window).
As a noun, 'la mira' refers to the sight on a firearm used for aiming. It can also mean a goal or objective you are aiming for.
mira (Noun)
📝 In Action
El cazador ajustó la mira de su rifle.
B2The hunter adjusted the sight of his rifle.
Tiene la mira puesta en ganar el campeonato.
C1He has his sights set on winning the championship.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine: 'la mira'
When used as a noun, 'mira' is always a feminine word. You'll always see it with 'la' or 'una', like 'la mira' (the sight) or 'una mira telescópica' (a telescopic sight).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mira
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'mira' to get someone's attention, not as a command to look?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'mira' and 've'?
'Mira' is about the action of directing your eyes at something ('Look at that bird!'). 'Ve' comes from the verb 'ver' (to see) and is more about the ability to perceive with your eyes ('I can't see the bird'). While they can sometimes be used in similar ways, 'mira' is an action, and 'ver' is a sense.
How do I know if 'mira' means 'look!' (command) or 'he/she looks' (statement)?
It's all about context! If someone says '¡Mira!' and points, it's a command. If it's in a sentence like 'Juan mira la tele', it's describing what Juan is doing. The exclamation marks are a big clue for the command form!