oyeron
oh-YEH-rohn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ellos oyeron la noticia por la radio.
A1They heard the news on the radio.
¿Ustedes oyeron ese ruido tan fuerte anoche?
A2Did you all hear that very loud noise last night?
Los vecinos oyeron los gritos y llamaron a la policía.
B1The neighbors heard the screams and called the police.
💡 Grammar Points
The Simple Past (Preterite)
'Oyeron' describes an action of hearing that started and finished completely in the past, like a single event or sudden noise.
The 'Y' Irregularity
The verb 'oír' is irregular. When the 'i' of the stem is between two vowels (like in o-i-e-ron), it changes to a 'y' to make the word easier to say. This only happens in the 'he/she' and 'they' forms of the simple past.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Oír vs. Escuchar
Mistake: "Using 'oyeron' to mean 'they listened intently to music or a lecture.'"
Correction: Use 'escucharon' for intentional listening ('Escucharon la clase'). 'Oyeron' is better for sounds that randomly came to their attention ('They heard a car horn').
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the Base
Since 'oyeron' means 'they heard,' remember the infinitive is 'oír.' This helps you recall other forms like 'oigo' (I hear) and 'oído' (hearing/ear).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: oyeron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'oyeron'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'oír' change the 'i' to a 'y' in 'oyeron'?
This is a common sound change in Spanish when the letter 'i' is surrounded by other vowel sounds (o-i-e-ron). The 'i' turns into the consonant sound 'y' to make the word flow more naturally when spoken.
Is 'oyeron' formal or informal?
'Oyeron' is neutral. It translates to 'they heard' (ellos/ellas) or 'you all heard' (ustedes). When referring to 'ustedes,' it is the formal way to address a group in Spain, or the standard way in almost all of Latin America.