oídos
/oh-EE-dohs/
ears
Oídos refers to the physical organs of hearing, the ears.
📝 In Action
Me duelen mucho los oídos cuando el avión despega.
A1My ears hurt a lot when the plane takes off.
Tengo que ir al médico para que me revise los oídos.
A2I have to go to the doctor so he can check my ears.
Se puso tapones en los oídos para no escuchar el ruido.
A1He put earplugs in his ears so he wouldn't hear the noise.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural
Since 'oído' is a masculine noun, its plural form 'oídos' must be used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., 'los oídos', 'mis oídos').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Oído vs. Oreja
Mistake: "Using 'orejas' (the external, visible part of the ear) when referring to internal hearing issues or medical checks."
Correction: Use 'oídos' when referring to the sense of hearing or the internal structure, which is common in medical contexts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use of Articles
In Spanish, we often use the definite article ('los') instead of possessive adjectives ('my,' 'your') when talking about body parts, like 'Me duelen los oídos' (My ears hurt).
Oídos can also be used figuratively to mean 'attention' or 'giving an audience' when listening.
oídos(noun)
attention
?when referring to listening or giving an audience
confidentiality
?in phrases like 'llegar a oídos de alguien'
📝 In Action
Hizo oídos sordos a mis advertencias y tuvo un accidente.
B2He turned a deaf ear to my warnings and had an accident.
La noticia llegó a oídos del jefe rápidamente.
B1The news quickly reached the boss's attention (literally: ears).
Necesito que me prestes tus oídos por un momento.
B1I need you to lend me your attention/listen for a moment.
💡 Grammar Points
Fixed Plural
In most idiomatic expressions, 'oídos' is used in the plural form, even when the action refers to a single person (e.g., 'hizo oídos sordos').
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
When talking about listening or ignoring, 'oídos' is the word to use, not 'orejas.' Think of 'oídos' as the active function of hearing.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: oídos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'oídos' in its figurative meaning (attention/ignoring)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'oídos' and 'orejas'?
'Oídos' refers to the internal organ and the sense of hearing itself. 'Orejas' refers specifically to the external, visible flaps of skin on the side of your head. Think of 'oídos' when talking about hearing, pain, or attention, and 'orejas' when talking about appearance or jewelry.
Can 'oídos' be used to mean the past participle of the verb 'oír'?
Yes, 'oídos' is the masculine plural past participle of 'oír' (to hear). It is used in compound tenses (e.g., 'han sido oídos') or as an adjective describing things that have been heard.