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oídos

oh-EE-dohs/oˈiðos/

ears

Also: sense of hearing
NounmA1
A close-up illustration of two simple, stylized human ears.

📝 In Action

Me duelen mucho los oídos cuando el avión despega.

A1

My ears hurt a lot when the plane takes off.

Tengo que ir al médico para que me revise los oídos.

A2

I have to go to the doctor so he can check my ears.

Se puso tapones en los oídos para no escuchar el ruido.

A1

He put earplugs in his ears so he wouldn't hear the noise.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • orejas (outer ears (pinna))
  • audición (hearing ability)

Common Collocations

  • dolor de oídos – earache
  • limpiar los oídos – to clean one's ears

attention

Also: confidentiality
NounmB1
An illustration of a friendly cartoon character with large ears sitting quietly and leaning forward, demonstrating focused attention or listening intently.

📝 In Action

Hizo oídos sordos a mis advertencias y tuvo un accidente.

B2

He turned a deaf ear to my warnings and had an accident.

La noticia llegó a oídos del jefe rápidamente.

B1

The news quickly reached the boss's attention (literally: ears).

Necesito que me prestes tus oídos por un momento.

B1

I need you to lend me your attention/listen for a moment.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • atención (attention)
  • escucha (listening)

Idioms & Expressions

  • hacer oídos sordos – to ignore or pretend not to hear
  • llegar a oídos de alguien – for news/information to reach someone
  • prestar oídos – to listen carefully; to pay attention

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: oídos

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'oídos' in its figurative meaning (attention/ignoring)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
oído(ear; hearing (singular)) — Noun
oír(to hear) — Verb
oyente(listener) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
ruidosidos
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *auditus*, meaning 'the act of hearing' or 'the sense of hearing.' It is directly related to the verb *audire* (to hear).

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: ouvidosFrench: ouïe

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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.