Inklingo
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ves

/bess/

you see

A child pointing excitedly at a bright red car visible in the distance.

This image illustrates 'ves' as the act of literal sight—perceiving an object with your eyes.

ves(Verb)

A1irregular er

you see

?

perceiving something with your eyes

📝 In Action

¿Ves ese coche rojo?

A1

Do you see that red car?

Si ves a María, dile que la estoy buscando.

A2

If you see Maria, tell her I'm looking for her.

No veo bien sin mis gafas. ¿Tú ves algo?

A1

I can't see well without my glasses. Do you see anything?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • ver la tele – to watch TV
  • ver una película – to see a movie

💡 Grammar Points

This is the 'tú' (you) form

'Ves' is how you say 'you see' when talking to one friend, family member, or someone your age. It comes from the verb 'ver' (to see).

Irregular in the Present Tense

The verb 'ver' is a bit irregular. Notice the 'yo' form is 'veo', not 'vo'. Once you learn 'veo', the rest of the present tense forms are more predictable.

❌ Common Pitfalls

'Ves' vs. 'Vez'

Mistake: "Te veo otra ves."

Correction: Te veo otra vez. 'Ves' is for seeing. 'Vez' (with a 'z') means 'time' or 'occasion'. They sound the same, so be careful!

⭐ Usage Tips

For More Than Just Seeing

Just like in English, you can use 'ver' for more than just physical sight. It's also used for watching things, like TV or a movie.

A young person looking at several confusing shapes that suddenly resolve into a clear, recognizable pattern.

This visualizes the figurative meaning of 'ves'—the moment of understanding or realizing a concept.

ves(Verb)

A2irregular er

you see

?

understanding or realizing something

Also:

you understand

,

you get it

?

informal

📝 In Action

¿Ves? Te dije que era una mala idea.

A2

See? I told you it was a bad idea.

Ahora ves por qué no quería ir.

B1

Now you see why I didn't want to go.

Ya ves, no es tan complicado como pensabas.

B1

You see, it's not as complicated as you thought.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • ¿Ves lo que quiero decir? – Do you see what I mean?
  • Como puedes ver... – As you can see...

Idioms & Expressions

  • ya ves – Used to confirm something that has just become clear, like saying 'There you go' or 'See?'

⭐ Usage Tips

Checking for Understanding

You can use '¿ves?' at the end of a sentence just like you'd use 'you see?' or 'get it?' in English to make sure the other person is following your explanation.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedve
yoveo
túves
ellos/ellas/ustedesven
nosotrosvemos
vosotrosveis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedveía
yoveía
túveías
ellos/ellas/ustedesveían
nosotrosveíamos
vosotrosveíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedvio
yovi
túviste
ellos/ellas/ustedesvieron
nosotrosvimos
vosotrosvisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedvea
yovea
túveas
ellos/ellas/ustedesvean
nosotrosveamos
vosotrosveáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedviera
yoviera
túvieras
ellos/ellas/ustedesvieran
nosotrosviéramos
vosotrosvierais
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ves

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'ves'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

ver(to see) - verb
vista(sight, view) - noun
visto(seen) - participle/adjective
televisión(television) - noun
prever(to foresee) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'ves' and 'vez'?

They sound exactly the same but have different meanings. 'Ves' (with an 's') is from the verb 'ver' and means 'you see'. 'Vez' (with a 'z') is a noun that means 'time' or 'occasion', like in 'una vez' (once) or 'otra vez' (again).

When should I use 'ves' versus 'miras'?

'Ves' is about the ability to see or perceive something ('¿Ves el avión?' - 'Do you see the plane?'). 'Miras' (from 'mirar') is about the action of looking at something intentionally ('¿Por qué me miras?' - 'Why are you looking at me?'). You can be looking ('mirando') at something but not truly seeing ('viendo') it.