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.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
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').