Inklingo

How to Say "they heard" in Spanish

English → Spanish

oyeron

oh-YEH-rohnoˈʝe.ɾon

VerbA1General
Use 'oyeron' when referring to the simple, often unintentional, act of perceiving a sound or information in the past.
A simple, colorful illustration showing two small figures sitting by a campfire at night, tilting their heads and listening intently to faint sound waves coming from the surrounding dark woods.

Examples

Ellos oyeron un ruido extraño en la noche.

They heard a strange noise during the night.

Ellos oyeron la noticia por la radio.

They heard the news on the radio.

¿Ustedes oyeron ese ruido tan fuerte anoche?

Did you all hear that very loud noise last night?

Los vecinos oyeron los gritos y llamaron a la policía.

The neighbors heard the screams and called the police.

The Simple Past (Preterite)

'Oyeron' describes an action of hearing that started and finished completely in the past, like a single event or sudden noise.

The 'Y' Irregularity

The verb 'oír' is irregular. When the 'i' of the stem is between two vowels (like in o-i-e-ron), it changes to a 'y' to make the word easier to say. This only happens in the 'he/she' and 'they' forms of the simple past.

Oír vs. Escuchar

Mistake: “Using 'oyeron' to mean 'they listened intently to music or a lecture.'”

Correction: Use 'escucharon' for intentional listening ('Escucharon la clase'). 'Oyeron' is better for sounds that randomly came to their attention ('They heard a car horn').

escucharon

es-koo-CHA-roneskuˈtʃaɾon

VerbA1General
Use 'escucharon' when the act of hearing involved intentional focus or listening, such as paying attention to music or a conversation.
Three small children sitting closely together on green grass in a bright park setting. Their expressions are focused, and their heads are tilted, showing they are listening intently to a sound coming from off-frame.

Examples

Ellos escucharon atentamente las instrucciones.

They listened carefully to the instructions.

Ellos escucharon la noticia en la radio.

They listened to the news on the radio.

¿Ustedes escucharon ese ruido anoche?

Did you all hear that noise last night?

Mis padres me escucharon atentamente cuando conté el problema.

My parents listened to me attentively when I told the problem.

Action Finished in the Past

This form ('escucharon') is the simple past (preterite), meaning the listening or hearing action started and finished at a specific point in the past.

Who Did the Action?

This ending is used when the action was done by 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal).

Preterite vs. Imperfect

Mistake: “Using 'escuchaban' when the action was a single, completed event.”

Correction: Use 'escucharon' for a single event ('They listened to the song once'). Use 'escuchaban' for habitual past actions or background details ('They used to listen to the radio every morning').

Oyeron vs. Escucharon

Learners often confuse 'oyeron' and 'escucharon' because both relate to sound. Remember that 'oyeron' is for simply perceiving sound, while 'escucharon' implies a more conscious effort to listen.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.