Three stylized figures standing outdoors, all turning their heads and focusing their attention on a small, blue bird perched on a branch above them.

oyen

OH-yen

VerbA1irregular ir

they hear?3rd person plural (masculine or feminine),you (all) hear?Formal plural (Ustedes form)

Also:they listen to?When context implies active attention, though 'escuchar' is more common for 'listen'.

Quick Reference

infinitiveoír (to hear)

past Participleoído (heard)

gerundoyendo (hearing)

📝 In Action

¿Oyen ese ruido tan fuerte afuera?

Do they hear that really loud noise outside?

Mis vecinos oyen música clásica todo el día.

My neighbors hear/listen to classical music all day.

Ustedes oyen las instrucciones y luego empiezan la prueba.

You all (formal) hear the instructions and then begin the test.

Word Connections

Synonyms

escuchan (they listen (actively))
perciben (they perceive)

Common Collocations

oyen voces – they hear voices
oyen bien – they hear well

💡 Grammar Points

It's the 'They' form

This word, 'oyen,' means 'they hear' or 'you all (formal) hear.' It describes what a group is doing right now.

The 'Y' Irregularity

The base verb 'oír' is irregular. Notice how the 'i' changes to a 'y' when it comes between two vowels, like in 'o-y-en' or 'o-y-endo.' This keeps the sound flowing smoothly.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Hearing vs. Listening

Mistake: "Using 'oyen' when you mean 'they are actively listening.'"

Correction: Use 'escuchan' for active listening (e.g., 'Escuchan la radio'). Use 'oyen' for the simple act of perceiving sound (e.g., 'Oyen un trueno').

⭐ Usage Tips

The Accent Mark

In the past tense (Preterite), 'oír' uses accent marks to separate the vowels (oí, oímos, oímos). But in the present tense 'oyen', the 'y' acts as a consonant, so no accent is needed.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

yooyera/oyese

él/ella/ustedoyera/oyese

nosotrosoyéramos/oyésemos

vosotrosoyerais/oyeseis

ellos/ellas/ustedesoyeran/oyesen

túoyeras/oyeses

present

yooiga

él/ella/ustedoiga

nosotrosoigamos

vosotrosoigáis

ellos/ellas/ustedesoigan

túoigas

indicative

preterite

yooí

él/ella/ustedoyó

nosotrosoímos

vosotrosoísteis

ellos/ellas/ustedesoyeron

túoíste

imperfect

yooía

él/ella/ustedoía

nosotrosoíamos

vosotrosoíais

ellos/ellas/ustedesoían

túoías

present

yooigo

él/ella/ustedoye

nosotrosoímos

vosotrosoís

ellos/ellas/ustedesoyen

túoyes

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ 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

oír(to hear) - verb

oído(ear (the organ) or hearing (the sense)) - noun

oyente(listener) - noun

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).