oyendo
“oyendo” means “hearing” in Spanish (The continuous action of perceiving sound).
hearing, listening
Also: auditioning
📝 In Action
Estoy oyendo música clásica ahora mismo.
A1I am listening to classical music right now.
¿Qué estás oyendo? Hay mucho ruido.
A2What are you hearing? There is a lot of noise.
Ellos pasaron la noche oyendo las olas del mar.
B1They spent the night listening to the waves of the sea.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: oyendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'oyendo'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The Spanish verb 'oír' (the base of 'oyendo') comes directly from the Latin verb *audīre*, which meant 'to hear.' Over centuries, the sounds shifted, but the core meaning remains the same.
First recorded: Before 10th century (as 'oír' derivatives)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'oyendo' have a 'y' instead of an 'i'?
This is a spelling rule for verbs whose stem ends in a vowel (like 'oír'). To avoid having three vowels in a row (o-i-e), Spanish replaces the weak 'i' sound with the stronger consonant 'y,' making it 'oyendo.' This is purely for pronunciation ease.
When should I use 'oyendo' versus 'escuchando'?
Use 'oyendo' when you are simply perceiving sound (e.g., 'I hear a siren'). Use 'escuchando' when you are actively paying attention or trying to understand something (e.g., 'I am listening to the news').