How to Say "listen!" in Spanish

Escucha can be a statement ('she listens') or a command ('listen!'). The situation you're in usually makes it clear which one is meant. For example, if someone says it directly to you at the start of a sentence, it's almost always a command.

To give a friendly command to one person ('tú'), you say escucha. To give a formal command to one person ('usted'), you say escuche. Notice the ending changes from 'a' to 'e'.

Using '¡Oiga!' is a very common and neutral way to interrupt a formal conversation or approach a stranger without being rude. It directly addresses the person formally (usted).

This form, 'escuchen,' is the standard way to tell a group of people (formal 'ustedes') to do something: '¡Escuchen!' (Listen!).

'Escuchen' is also the verb form you must use when expressing desires, requests, or uncertainty about what 'they' or 'you all' are doing. Example: 'Quiero que escuchen' (I want them/you all to listen).

This word is a command telling a group of people ('ustedes' or 'you all') to listen. It is taken from a special verb form (the subjunctive) often used for wishes and commands.

When giving a command to a group using the 'ustedes' form, Spanish uses the form that normally goes with 'ellos/ellas' in the present subjunctive. In this case, it's the command form of the verb oír (to hear).

This is the command form used when you are speaking to multiple people informally, like friends or family. This form is standard throughout Spain.

To create a positive 'vosotros' command for most -AR verbs, you take the infinitive (escuchAR) and change the final 'R' to a 'D' (escuchAD). This is a helpful pattern to memorize!

While oye is the formal command (used with usted), oyes is often used informally as a simple attention getter, especially in Spain and parts of Latin America, similar to saying 'You know what?' in English.