Parar la oreja
/pah-RAR lah oh-REH-hah/
To listen attentively, pay close attention, or eavesdrop.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, 'parar la oreja' means 'to stop the ear'.
In practice, it means to listen closely or eavesdrop on something interesting.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
Cuando escuché mi nombre en la otra habitación, paré la oreja para ver qué decían.
B1When I heard my name in the other room, I pricked up my ears to see what they were saying.
Para la oreja, que te voy a contar un secreto que nadie más sabe.
B1Listen closely, I'm going to tell you a secret that nobody else knows.
Los niños siempre paran la oreja cuando los adultos hablan de regalos.
B2The kids always keep their ears open when the adults talk about presents.
📜 Origin Story
This expression is very visual and comes from the animal world. When an animal like a dog, cat, or deer hears a sudden or interesting sound, it physically stops everything it's doing, and its ears perk up and turn towards the source of the sound. The idiom perfectly captures this idea of 'stopping' all other activities to focus entirely on hearing something.
⭐ Usage Tips
For Secrets and Gossip
Use this phrase when you're trying to overhear something interesting, secret, or gossipy. It has a slightly curious or even sneaky feeling to it, like you're tuning in to a private channel.
It's an Action
Think of 'parar la oreja' as an action verb. You can say 'yo paro la oreja' (I listen in), 'él paró la oreja' (he listened in), etc. It describes the moment you decide to start listening intently.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Not Just 'To Listen'
Mistake: "Using 'parar la oreja' to mean 'to listen' in a normal, everyday context, like listening to a teacher in class."
Correction: This idiom implies a special kind of listening—focused, often secretive, and aimed at something specific you weren't necessarily meant to hear. For general listening, stick with the verb 'escuchar'.
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Extremely common and widely used in everyday conversation.
Latin America
Widely understood and used, especially in the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay). While other local expressions might exist, this one is generally recognizable.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Parar la oreja
Question 1 of 1
If you 'paras la oreja' at a party, what are you most likely doing?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'parar la oreja' always mean eavesdropping?
Not always, but it often carries that implication. It can also be used more innocently, like telling a friend, '¡Para la oreja!' which means 'Listen up!' or 'Listen to this!' The context and tone will tell you if it's sneaky or just a call for attention.