How to Say "look" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “look” is “mira” — use 'mira' as an informal exclamation to draw someone's attention to something you see, similar to 'Look!' or 'Hey, look!'.
mira
/MEE-rah//ˈmi.ɾa/
Examples
¡Mira! El tren está llegando.
Look! The train is arriving.
¡Mira! Un colibrí en el jardín.
Look! A hummingbird in the garden.
Mira, no creo que sea una buena idea ir tan tarde.
Look, I don't think it's a good idea to go so late.
Mira que te lo dije.
See, I told you so.
Confusing it with a command
Mistake: “Thinking 'Mira, no quiero ir' means you are telling the person to physically look at something.”
Correction: When it starts a sentence like this, 'Mira' is a filler word like 'Look' or 'Hey' in English, used to get attention before making a point. You don't actually need to look at anything.
mire
/MEE-reh//ˈmi.ɾe/
Examples
Mire, señor, su autobús está aquí.
Look, sir, your bus is here.
Mire, señor, se le cayó la cartera.
Look, sir, you dropped your wallet.
Mire a la derecha antes de cruzar la calle.
Look to the right before crossing the street.
Por favor, mire este documento y fírmelo.
Please, look at this document and sign it.
Giving Polite Commands
This is the command form of 'mirar' (to look) that you use when speaking to someone formally ('usted'). Think of it as the polite way to say 'Look!'
The 'Mood' for Wishes and Doubts (Subjunctive)
Spanish has a special verb form for things that aren't facts, like wishes, doubts, or emotions. After a phrase like 'espero que' (I hope that) or 'no creo que' (I don't think that), the verb changes to 'mire'.
Mixing Formal and Informal
Mistake: “Using 'mira' when you should be formal, for example, with an older person: 'Señora, mira esto.'”
Correction: Always use 'mire' when addressing someone as 'usted' or 'señor/señora': 'Señora, mire esto.' It shows respect.
Using the 'Fact' Form by Mistake
Mistake: “Quiero que usted mira la casa.”
Correction: Say 'Quiero que usted mire la casa.' After 'quiero que' (I want that...), you need to use this special 'mire' form, not the regular 'mira'.
miren
/MEE-rehn//ˈmi.ɾen/
Examples
¡Miren todos! ¡Qué bonito atardecer!
Look everyone! What a beautiful sunset!
¡Miren! Un pájaro muy raro.
Look! A very strange bird.
Por favor, todos miren hacia el frente.
Please, everyone look towards the front.
Es importante que miren las instrucciones antes de empezar.
It's important that you all look at the instructions before starting.
The Many Jobs of 'Miren'
This one word can be a command ('Look!'), part of a regular sentence ('You all look'), or a special form for wishes and doubts ('I hope you look'). The words around it tell you which job it's doing.
Who is 'Miren' for?
'Miren' is used when talking TO a group of people (like 'you all' or 'y'all'). It's also used when talking ABOUT a group of people ('they') in certain sentences that express wishes, doubts, or commands.
For a Group, Not One Person
Mistake: “Saying '¡Miren!' when talking to just one friend.”
Correction: For one friend, use '¡Mira!'. 'Miren' is always for more than one person.
parecen
pah-REH-sen/paˈɾeθen/
Examples
Los niños parecen cansados.
The children look tired.
Los turistas parecen cansados después de caminar tanto.
The tourists seem tired after walking so much.
Esas ideas parecen muy buenas para el proyecto.
Those ideas appear very good for the project.
Ustedes parecen muy contentos con el resultado.
You all seem very pleased with the result.
Who Does the Seeming?
The ending '-en' tells us that the feeling or appearance applies to a group of people or things (ellos, ellas, or plural usted).
Irregular 'Yo' Form
The base verb 'parecer' is irregular only in the 'yo' form of the present tense and all forms derived from it (like the subjunctive): 'yo parezco' (I seem/appear). This 'zc' change is normal for verbs ending in -ecer.
Confusing Ser/Estar and Parecer
Mistake: “Misusing 'ser' or 'estar' when expressing a visual impression: 'Son cansados' (They are tired, permanently).”
Correction: 'Parecen cansados' (They seem tired). 'Parecer' is perfect for giving your personal impression or observation.
mirada
/mee-RAH-dah//miˈɾaða/
Examples
Me dio una mirada rápida.
He gave me a quick look.
Necesito una rápida mirada a tu agenda.
I need a quick look at your schedule.
Ella evitó mi mirada en el pasillo.
She avoided my gaze in the hallway.
El niño se perdió tras una larga mirada al horizonte.
The boy was lost after a long look at the horizon.
Always Feminine
Since 'mirada' ends in -a, it is a feminine noun, so you must always use 'la' before it: 'la mirada.'
Adjectives Describe the Feeling
When 'mirada' refers to an expression, you almost always follow it with an adjective or a phrase starting with 'de' to explain the emotion: 'mirada triste,' 'mirada de amor.'
Confusing Noun and Verb
Mistake: “No me gustas mirar. (Incorrect use of the noun)”
Correction: No me gusta tu mirada. (I don't like your look.) The verb form is 'mirar,' meaning 'to look.'
fíjate
Examples
Fíjate en los detalles del cuadro.
Look closely at the details of the painting.
aspecto
/as-PEK-toh//asˈpekto/
Examples
Tiene un aspecto saludable.
He has a healthy appearance/look.
Tiene buen aspecto después de sus vacaciones.
He has a good appearance/look after his vacation.
El aspecto del edificio es antiguo, pero el interior es moderno.
The appearance of the building is old, but the interior is modern.
Cuidar su aspecto físico es importante para ella.
Taking care of her physical appearance is important to her.
Masculine Noun Rule
Remember that 'aspecto' is always a masculine word, so use the article 'el' or 'un': 'el aspecto' (the appearance).
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: “La aspecto es bueno.”
Correction: El aspecto es bueno. ('Aspecto' is masculine, even though it ends in 'o' which sometimes tricks learners.)
vistazo
/bees-TAH-soh//bisˈtaso/
Examples
Échale un vistazo a este informe.
Take a look at this report.
Le di un vistazo rápido al documento antes de la reunión.
I gave the document a quick glance before the meeting.
¿Puedes echar un vistazo a mi coche? Hace un ruido raro.
Can you take a look at my car? It's making a weird noise.
Con un solo vistazo, supo que algo andaba mal.
With just one glance, she knew something was wrong.
The '-azo' Ending
'Vistazo' comes from 'vista' (view/sight). The ending '-azo' in Spanish often suggests a quick, sharp action or a hit. So, a 'vistazo' is like a 'quick hit' with your eyes.
It's a Noun, Not a Verb
Mistake: “Don't say: 'Yo vistazo el libro.' (I glance the book.)”
Correction: Say: 'Yo le echo un vistazo al libro.' (Literally: I throw a glance at the book.) 'Vistazo' is a thing (a noun), not an action (a verb). You need a verb like 'echar' (to throw) or 'dar' (to give) to perform the action.
apariencia
ah-pah-rye-EN-see-ah/apaˈɾjenθja/
Examples
Su apariencia ha cambiado mucho.
His appearance has changed a lot.
Su apariencia física es muy atlética.
His physical appearance is very athletic.
Me gusta la apariencia de esta nueva casa.
I like the look of this new house.
Ella cuida mucho su apariencia personal.
She takes great care of her personal appearance.
Feminine Noun Rule
Most Spanish nouns ending in -cia, like 'apariencia,' are feminine and require feminine articles (la apariencia, una apariencia).
aire
/ai-reh//ˈai.ɾe/
Examples
Ese niño tiene un aire a su padre.
That child has a look of his father.
Ese chico tiene un aire a su abuelo.
That boy has a look of his grandfather / looks a bit like his grandfather.
Llegó con un aire de superioridad.
He arrived with an air of superiority.
La decoración le da a la habitación un aire muy moderno.
The decoration gives the room a very modern vibe.
expresión
Examples
Tenía una expresión de sorpresa.
He had an expression of surprise.
imagen
/ee-MAH-hen//iˈma.xen/
Examples
La empresa cuida su imagen pública.
The company takes care of its public image.
El presidente está tratando de mejorar su imagen después del escándalo.
The president is trying to improve his image after the scandal.
Ella proyecta una imagen de gran confianza y profesionalismo.
She projects an image of great confidence and professionalism.
Necesitamos cambiar la imagen corporativa de la empresa.
We need to change the corporate image (or branding) of the company.
Actions and Image
When talking about building or maintaining a reputation, Spanish often uses verbs like proyectar (to project), mejorar (to improve), or cuidar (to take care of).
pinta
/PEEN-tah//ˈpin.ta/
Examples
¡Qué buena pinta tiene esa tarta!
That cake looks really good!
Esa comida tiene muy buena pinta. ¡Quiero probarla!
That food looks really good (has a good appearance). I want to try it!
El nuevo entrenador tiene pinta de ser muy estricto.
The new coach looks like (has the appearance of being) very strict.
Llevas una pinta muy elegante hoy. ¿Tienes una reunión?
You have a very elegant look today. Do you have a meeting?
Using 'Tener'
We almost always use 'pinta' with the verb 'tener' (to have) to describe the appearance of something, like saying 'it has a good look' instead of 'it is good looking'.
Mixing with 'Parecer'
Mistake: “La comida parece buena pinta.”
Correction: La comida tiene buena pinta. ('Pinta' already means 'look,' so 'parecer' (to seem) is usually redundant here.)
quedan
KAY-dahn/ˈkeðan/
Examples
Ese vestido te quedan muy bien.
That dress looks very good on you.
Las botas no les quedan bien, son muy estrechas.
The boots don't fit them well, they are too tight.
Estos colores siempre quedan fantásticos con tu tono de piel.
These colors always look fantastic with your skin tone.
Los nuevos uniformes les quedan un poco grandes.
The new uniforms are a little big on them.
Indirect Object Required
When talking about fitting/looking, you must include a pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to say who the item looks good/bad on. The item itself is the subject that 'quedan' must agree with.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Mistake: “Saying 'Las botas les queda bien' (singular verb for plural subject).”
Correction: Always make sure 'quedan' agrees with the clothes/item (plural) and not the person (indirect object pronoun). Correct: 'Las botas les quedan bien.'
quedara
/keh-DAH-rah//keˈðaɾa/
Examples
No sabía si la chaqueta le quedara bien.
I didn't know if the jacket would look good on him.
No estaba seguro de que la camisa le quedara bien.
I wasn't sure that the shirt would fit him well.
Si el color quedara muy oscuro, podemos cambiarlo.
If the color looked too dark, we could change it.
Era necesario que el corte de pelo quedara moderno.
It was necessary that the haircut looked modern.
Using 'quedar' like 'gustar'
When talking about fitting or suitability, 'quedar' often works like 'gustar' (to like), where the subject is the item, and the person is the indirect object: 'La falda me queda bien' (The skirt fits me well).
Commands vs. Appearance
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