oído
/o-EE-do/
ear
As a noun, oído refers to the inner ear or the sense of hearing itself.
📝 In Action
Me duele el oído derecho.
A2My right ear hurts.
Mi abuelo no tiene muy buen oído.
B1My grandfather doesn't have very good hearing.
¡Presta oído a lo que te digo!
B2Listen up to what I'm telling you!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Oído vs. Oreja: Inside vs. Outside
Mistake: "Me voy a poner un pendiente en el oído."
Correction: Me voy a poner un pendiente en la oreja. (I'm going to put on an earring.) Use 'oreja' for the visible, outer part of the ear where you wear earrings. Use 'oído' for the inner part you can't see, which you use for hearing.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talk About the Sense
Think of 'oído' as the 'sense of hearing.' If you're talking about hearing ability, like having a good ear for music ('buen oído'), this is the word you need.
Oído is the past participle of the verb oír (to hear), meaning 'heard'.
📝 In Action
¿Has oído ese ruido?
A2Have you heard that noise?
Nunca había oído hablar de ese actor.
B1I had never heard of that actor.
El himno nacional fue oído con respeto.
B2The national anthem was heard with respect.
💡 Grammar Points
A Building Block for the Past
You'll almost always see 'oído' paired with the helper verb 'haber' (to have) to form past tenses. For example, 'he oído' (I have heard), 'habíamos oído' (we had heard).
Can Act Like an Adjective
Sometimes, 'oído' can describe a noun, just like an adjective. When it does, it needs to match the noun in gender and number. For example: 'una historia oída mil veces' (a story heard a thousand times).
⭐ Usage Tips
Hearing vs. Listening
'Oído' comes from 'oír', which is the passive act of hearing a sound. If you're talking about actively paying attention, you'd use 'escuchado' (listened), which comes from 'escuchar'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: oído
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is correct for saying 'My ears hurt' because of a loud noise?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simplest way to remember the difference between 'oído' and 'oreja'?
Think of it this way: you wear earrings on your 'orejas' (the outside part). You get an earache in your 'oídos' (the inside part). 'Oído' is for hearing, 'oreja' is for showing!
Is 'oído' related to 'audio'?
Yes, absolutely! Both words come from the same Latin root 'audīre' (to hear). You can see the connection in many English words like 'audio,' 'auditorium,' and 'audible.'
Why do people say 'he oído' instead of just 'oí'?
Both mean 'I heard,' but they're used differently. 'Oí' (I heard) is for a specific, finished moment in the past, like 'Oí un ruido anoche' (I heard a noise last night). 'He oído' (I have heard) is for experiences that are still relevant, like 'He oído buenas cosas de ti' (I have heard good things about you).