oyendo
oh-YEN-doh
Quick Reference
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The Continuous Action Form
Oyendo is the '-ing' form of the verb 'oír.' We use it with a form of 'estar' (like 'estoy' or 'estás') to talk about an action happening right now (e.g., 'Estamos oyendo la radio').
The 'Y' Rule (Vowel Change)
The base verb 'oír' ends in a vowel (o-í-r). When forming the continuous action word, Spanish often changes the 'i' to a 'y' before the '-endo' ending to make it flow better: 'oyendo' instead of the awkward 'oiendo.' This is common in verbs like 'leer' (leyendo) and 'creer' (creyendo).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Oír and Escuchar
Mistake: "Using 'oyendo' when you mean focused, intentional listening (like 'listening to a lecture')."
Correction: Use 'escuchando' for intentional focus. Use 'oyendo' for the simple perception of sound or when the listening is passive. Example: 'Estoy escuchando al profesor' (I am listening to the professor).
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the Irregularity
The 'y' in 'oyendo' is a strong signal that this verb is irregular. Memorize 'oír' and its 'y' forms (oyó, oyeron, oyendo) early on, as they are very common.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: oyendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'oyendo'?
📚 More Resources
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').