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?

Do you see that red car?

Si ves a María, dile que la estoy buscando.

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

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

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

Word Connections

Synonyms

miras (you look at)
observas (you observe)

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.

See? I told you it was a bad idea.

Ahora ves por qué no quería ir.

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

Ya ves, no es tan complicado como pensabas.

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

Word Connections

Synonyms

entiendes (you understand)
comprendes (you comprehend)

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

yoveo

túves

él/ella/ustedve

nosotrosvemos

vosotrosveis

ellos/ellas/ustedesven

preterite

yovi

túviste

él/ella/ustedvio

nosotrosvimos

vosotrosvisteis

ellos/ellas/ustedesvieron

imperfect

yoveía

túveías

él/ella/ustedveía

nosotrosveíamos

vosotrosveíais

ellos/ellas/ustedesveían

subjunctive

present

yovea

túveas

él/ella/ustedvea

nosotrosveamos

vosotrosveáis

ellos/ellas/ustedesvean

imperfect

yoviera

túvieras

él/ella/ustedviera

nosotrosviéramos

vosotrosvierais

ellos/ellas/ustedesvieran

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.