oyes
“oyes” means “you hear” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
you hear, you listen
Also: do you hear
📝 In Action
¿Oyes ese ruido? Parece que viene del piso de arriba.
A1Do you hear that noise? It seems to be coming from upstairs.
Tú no oyes mis consejos, siempre haces lo que quieres.
A2You don't listen to my advice, you always do what you want.
Hey!, Listen!
Also: Excuse me?
📝 In Action
Oyes, ¿viste lo que pasó ayer en la plaza?
B1Hey, did you see what happened yesterday in the square?
¡Oyes! Necesito contarte algo muy importante.
B1Listen! I need to tell you something very important.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: oyes
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'oyes' as a way to grab someone's attention, rather than stating a fact about their hearing ability?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb *oír* comes from the Latin word *audīre*, meaning 'to hear' or 'to listen to.' The form *oyes* developed as the original Latin sound shifted and changed through the centuries, creating the characteristic 'y' sound.
First recorded: Old Spanish (c. 10th-13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'oyes' and 'oye'?
'Oyes' is the form used when speaking directly to *tú* (you, informal singular) in the present tense. 'Oye' is the form used for *él/ella/usted* (he/she/you, formal singular) OR it is the affirmative command form for *tú* (Listen!).
Why does *oír* change the 'i' to a 'y'?
This happens when the vowel 'i' is weak and squeezed between two other vowels (e.g., o-i-endo becomes o-y-endo). This change makes the word flow better and is a common pattern in Spanish for several irregular verbs.