ves
“ves” means “you see” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
you see
📝 In Action
¿Ves ese coche rojo?
A1Do you see that red car?
Si ves a María, dile que la estoy buscando.
A2If you see Maria, tell her I'm looking for her.
No veo bien sin mis gafas. ¿Tú ves algo?
A1I can't see well without my glasses. Do you see anything?
you see
Also: you understand, you get it
📝 In Action
¿Ves? Te dije que era una mala idea.
A2See? I told you it was a bad idea.
Ahora ves por qué no quería ir.
B1Now you see why I didn't want to go.
Ya ves, no es tan complicado como pensabas.
B1You see, it's not as complicated as you thought.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ves
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'ves'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Ves' comes from the verb 'ver', which grew out of the Latin word 'vidēre', meaning 'to see'. It's a very old word that has kept its core meaning for thousands of years.
First recorded: Before the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.