Inklingo
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oido

/oh-EE-doh/

ear

A close-up illustration of a human ear, showing the outer helix and lobe.

When used as a noun, oído refers to the physical organ of hearing: the ear.

oido(noun)

mA1

ear

?

physical organ

,

hearing

?

sense

Also:

inner ear

?

often used in medical contexts (oído interno)

,

pitch/tune

?

ability to perceive music ('tener buen oído')

📝 In Action

El doctor revisó mi oído porque me dolía.

A1

The doctor checked my ear because it was hurting me.

Necesitas buen oído para tocar el violín.

B1

You need good hearing (a good ear) to play the violin.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • audición (hearing (the process))
  • oreja (outer ear)

Antonyms

  • sordera (deafness)

Common Collocations

  • dolor de oído – earache
  • al oído – in someone's ear (whispering)

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser todo oídos – to be all ears (listening attentively)

💡 Grammar Points

Oído vs. Oreja

Use 'oído' for the sense of hearing and the internal part of the ear. Use 'oreja' for the visible, external part (the flap on the side of your head).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Oreja' for Pain

Mistake: "Me duele la oreja."

Correction: Me duele el oído. (Unless the pain is specifically in the outer visible part, 'oído' is the correct term for an earache.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Singular for Body Parts

When talking about pain, Spanish often uses the singular even if you have two ears: 'Me duele el oído' (My ear hurts, referring to one side).

A profile illustration of a person's head, focusing on their ear, with a small, colorful musical note floating right next to it, indicating sound was received.

As a past participle, oído translates to 'heard,' often used in compound tenses.

oido(past participle)

A2

heard

?

used in compound tenses

Also:

listened to

?

when used adjectivally

📝 In Action

Nunca he oido una historia tan increíble.

A2

I have never heard such an incredible story.

La canción oido en la radio era muy pegadiza.

B1

The song heard on the radio was very catchy.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • haber oído – to have heard
  • ser oído – to be heard (passive voice)

💡 Grammar Points

Forming Perfect Tenses

Use 'oido' after a form of the verb 'haber' (to have) to describe actions completed in the past: 'He oído' (I have heard).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Escuchado'

Mistake: "He escuchado la noticia."

Correction: He oído la noticia. (While 'escuchado' is okay, 'oído' is often preferred for receiving sounds or news, whereas 'escuchar' emphasizes the act of paying attention.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Irregularity of the Root Verb

Remember that the base verb 'oír' is highly irregular and changes its stem (e.g., 'oigo', 'oye'), but its past participle 'oido' is regular (it ends in -ido).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: oido

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'oido' as the physical body part?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

oír(to hear) - verb
oyente(listener) - noun
auditivo(auditory) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Should 'oido' have an accent mark?

Yes, correctly spelled in Spanish, the word is 'oído' (with an accent over the 'i'). This accent is necessary to show that the 'o' and the 'i' are pronounced as two separate syllables (o-í-do), not as a single diphthong sound.

How is 'oído' different from 'oreja'?

'Oído' refers to the sense of hearing or the internal ear structure. 'Oreja' refers only to the visible, external flap of the ear on the side of the head.