oye
“oye” means “he/she hears” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
he/she hears, you hear
Also: listen
📝 In Action
Ella oye un pájaro cantar fuera de su ventana.
A1She hears a bird singing outside her window.
Disculpe, ¿usted oye esa alarma?
A2Excuse me, do you (formal) hear that alarm?
Oye, necesito tu ayuda.
A1Listen, I need your help.
hey
Also: listen, hey you
📝 In Action
Oye, ¿qué hora es?
A1Hey, what time is it?
Oye, ¿viste eso?
A2Hey, did you see that?
Oye, ten cuidado.
A2Hey, be careful.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: oye
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'oye' to mean 'he hears'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb 'audīre', which means 'to hear'. Over centuries, the pronunciation softened and changed into the Spanish verb 'oír', and 'oye' is one of its most common forms.
First recorded: Evolved from Latin, present in Old Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it rude to say 'oye' to a stranger?
It can be, yes. 'Oye' is informal and best used with friends, family, or people your age. To be polite with strangers, older people, or in formal situations, it's much better to say 'disculpe' (excuse me) or 'perdone'.
What's the difference between 'oye' and 'escucha'?
Think of it like 'hear' vs. 'listen'. 'Oye' comes from 'oír' (to hear), the physical act of sound reaching your ears. 'Escucha' comes from 'escuchar' (to listen), the act of paying attention. You use 'Oye' to get someone's attention, and then you might say 'escucha esto' (listen to this) to ask them to pay attention.