ver
“ver” means “to see” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
to see
Also: to look at
📝 In Action
¿Ves ese pájaro en el árbol?
A1Do you see that bird in the tree?
No veo nada sin mis gafas.
A1I can't see anything without my glasses.
Si abres los ojos, verás las montañas.
A2If you open your eyes, you will see the mountains.
to watch
📝 In Action
Vamos a ver una película esta noche.
A1We're going to watch a movie tonight.
¿Viste el partido de fútbol ayer?
A2Did you watch the soccer game yesterday?
A mis hijos les encanta ver dibujos animados.
A2My kids love to watch cartoons.
to see
Also: to visit, to meet with
📝 In Action
Voy a ver a mis abuelos el fin de semana.
A2I'm going to see (visit) my grandparents this weekend.
Tengo que ver al doctor mañana.
A2I have to see the doctor tomorrow.
Nos vemos el lunes en la oficina.
A2See you Monday at the office. (Literally: We'll see each other...)
to see
Also: to realize
📝 In Action
Ah, ya veo lo que quieres decir.
B1Ah, now I see what you mean.
No veo por qué es un problema.
B1I don't see why it's a problem.
Hazlo como veas conveniente.
B2Do it as you see fit.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ver
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'ver' to mean 'to visit'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'vidēre', which means 'to see'. This ancient root is shared by many words in English and other languages.
First recorded: Before the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ver' and 'mirar'?
Think of it this way: 'ver' is about what your eyes perceive, often without trying. If your eyes are open, you 'see' (ves). 'Mirar' is the action of directing your eyes toward something on purpose, 'to look at' or 'to watch'. However, for watching TV or movies, Spanish speakers almost always use 'ver'.
Why is 'he saw' 'vio' and not 'vió' with an accent?
This is a great grammar question! In Spanish, one-syllable words generally don't have accent marks. Even though it might feel like it should, the past tense forms 'vi' and 'vio' are single syllables and follow this rule. The same goes for 'fui' (I went) and 'dio' (he gave).
How do I use the phrase 'a ver'?
'A ver' is a super useful phrase that means something like 'Let's see...' or 'So...'. You use it when you're waiting for something to happen, when you want to check something out, or to get someone's attention. For example: 'A ver, ¿qué tenemos aquí?' (Let's see, what do we have here?).