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observa

ohb-sehr-vahoβˈseɾ.βa

watches, observes

Also: notice, pays attention to
A young child wearing a brightly colored sweater is looking intently through a pair of binoculars at a distant object, suggesting close observation.
infinitiveobservar
gerundobservando
past Participleobservado

📝 In Action

Ella observa el cielo buscando estrellas fugaces.

A2

She watches the sky looking for shooting stars.

¡Observa cómo lo hace el instructor antes de intentarlo tú mismo!

B1

Observe how the instructor does it before trying it yourself!

Usted observa los detalles con mucha precisión, señor Torres.

B2

You (formal) observe the details with great precision, Mr. Torres.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • observa atentamente – watches carefully
  • observa el comportamiento – observes the behavior

remarks

Also: points out
Verb (Conjugated Form)B2regular arformal
A friendly character is pointing towards a rainbow in the sky while speaking to a companion, illustrating the act of making a remark or comment.
infinitiveobservar
gerundobservando
past Participleobservado

📝 In Action

El comité observa que los costos han excedido el presupuesto original.

B2

The committee remarks that the costs have exceeded the original budget.

Observa con calma las inconsistencias en el documento.

C1

Calmly point out (command) the inconsistencies in the document.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • observa una objeción – raises an objection

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedobserva
yoobservo
túobservas
ellos/ellas/ustedesobservan
nosotrosobservamos
vosotrosobserváis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedobservaba
yoobservaba
túobservabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesobservaban
nosotrosobservábamos
vosotrosobservabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedobservó
yoobservé
túobservaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesobservaron
nosotrosobservamos
vosotrosobservasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedobserve
yoobserve
túobserves
ellos/ellas/ustedesobserven
nosotrosobservemos
vosotrosobservéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedobservara/observase
yoobservara/observase
túobservaras/observases
ellos/ellas/ustedesobservaran/observasen
nosotrosobserváramos/observásemos
vosotrosobservarais/observaseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "observa" in Spanish:

notice→observes→points out→remarks→watches→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: observa

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'observa' as a command?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
observación(observation (noun)) — Noun
observador(observer (noun/adjective)) — Noun
observable(observable) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *observare*, meaning 'to watch, note, or attend to.' It has maintained this core meaning of careful attention throughout history.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: observePortuguese: observa

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'observa' (from observar) and 'mira' (from mirar)?

Both mean 'to look,' but 'observa' implies a deeper, more careful, and detailed watching, often for scientific or analytical purposes. 'Mira' is a general term for looking or seeing.

Who is the subject when a Spanish speaker says 'observa'?

The subject is either 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), or 'usted' (formal you). It is also the command form used when speaking informally to 'tú' (you).