oyen
“oyen” means “they hear” in Spanish (3rd person plural (masculine or feminine)).
they hear, you (all) hear
Also: they listen to
📝 In Action
¿Oyen ese ruido tan fuerte afuera?
A1Do they hear that really loud noise outside?
Mis vecinos oyen música clásica todo el día.
A2My neighbors hear/listen to classical music all day.
Ustedes oyen las instrucciones y luego empiezan la prueba.
B1You all (formal) hear the instructions and then begin the test.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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Words that translate to "oyen" in Spanish:
they hear→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: oyen
Question 1 of 1
Which English phrase correctly translates 'Ellos oyen el despertador, pero no se levantan.'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'oír' comes directly from the Latin verb *audīre*, which meant 'to hear' or 'to listen.' This connection is why we see the root 'audi-' in English words like 'audio' and 'auditorium.'
First recorded: Old Spanish (around the 10th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'oír' a stem-changing verb?
No, it's not a standard stem-changer like 'dormir' or 'poder.' Instead, it's a highly irregular verb that adds a 'g' in the 'yo' form ('oigo') and changes 'i' to 'y' when the 'i' is between two vowels ('oyen', 'oyendo').
When should I use 'oyen' (to hear) instead of 'escuchan' (to listen)?
'Oyen' is for involuntary reception of sound (like hearing a sudden noise). 'Escuchan' is for voluntary, focused attention (like listening to a podcast or music).