Mastering the Spanish Verb “Oír”: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding how to conjugate Spanish verbs is crucial for effective communication. Among these verbs, “oír,” meaning “to hear,” holds a significant place due to its irregular conjugation patterns.

Mastering “oír” allows you to express a wide range of auditory experiences in Spanish, from simply hearing a sound to actively listening to someone. This comprehensive guide is designed to provide you with a thorough understanding of “oír” conjugation, its various forms, usage rules, and practical examples.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will equip you with the knowledge and skills to confidently use “oír” in your Spanish conversations and writing.

This guide will benefit students of all levels, from those just starting their Spanish journey to advanced speakers looking to refine their grammar. By the end of this article, you will have a firm grasp of the verb “oír,” its conjugations, and how to use it correctly in various contexts.

Table of Contents

• Definition of “Oír”
• Structural Breakdown of “Oír” Conjugation
• Tenses and Moods of “Oír”
  • Indicative Mood
  • Subjunctive Mood
  • Imperative Mood
• Examples of “Oír” in Use
  • Present Indicative
  • Preterite Indicative
  • Imperfect Indicative
  • Future Indicative
  • Conditional Indicative
  • Present Subjunctive
  • Imperfect Subjunctive
  • Future Subjunctive (Rare)
  • Imperative Mood
• Usage Rules for “Oír”
• Common Mistakes with “Oír”
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics: Idiomatic Expressions with “Oír”
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Conclusion

Definition of “Oír”

The Spanish verb “oír” translates to “to hear” in English. It describes the act of perceiving sounds through the ears.

“Oír” is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugation patterns deviate from the standard rules of regular Spanish verbs. It’s a transitive verb, which means it typically takes a direct object (the thing being heard).

Understanding “oír” is vital for expressing auditory experiences and participating effectively in conversations.

The function of “oír” is to describe the sensory experience of hearing. It can refer to both intentional and unintentional hearing.

For example, you can “oír” (hear) a conversation without actively listening, or you can “oír” (listen to) music intentionally.

Contextually, “oír” is used in a wide range of situations, from everyday conversations to formal settings. You might use “oír” to describe hearing a noise, listening to a speech, or overhearing a secret.

Its versatility makes it an essential verb to master for fluency in Spanish.

Structural Breakdown of “Oír” Conjugation

The irregularity of “oír” primarily affects its stem. The stem changes depending on the tense and mood.

In many forms, the “i” in the stem changes to “y.” Let’s break down the key structural elements:

• Stem Changes: The core irregularity lies in the stem. In the present tense (except for nosotros and vosotros), the “i” becomes “oigo,” “oyes,” “oye,” “oyen.” In the preterite tense, the “i” changes to “y” in the third-person singular and plural forms: oyó and oyeron.
• Endings: The endings are generally consistent with Spanish verb conjugation rules for -ir verbs, but the stem changes must be applied correctly.

Understanding these stem changes is crucial for accurate conjugation. Let’s look at some examples to illustrate these patterns.

Tenses and Moods of “Oír”

Like all Spanish verbs, “oír” is conjugated across various tenses and moods. The primary moods are indicative, subjunctive, and imperative.

Each mood has its own set of tenses to express different time frames and levels of certainty.

Indicative Mood

The indicative mood is used to express factual statements or objective realities. Here are the main indicative tenses of “oír”:

• Present Indicative: Describes actions happening now (e.g., Yo oigo – I hear).
• Preterite Indicative: Describes completed actions in the past (e.g., Él oyó – He heard).
• Imperfect Indicative: Describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past (e.g., Ella oía – She used to hear/was hearing).
• Future Indicative: Describes actions that will happen in the future (e.g., Nosotros oiremos – We will hear).
• Conditional Indicative: Describes actions that would happen under certain conditions (e.g., Yo oiría – I would hear).

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood expresses doubt, uncertainty, wishes, or emotions. It’s often used in subordinate clauses.

Here are the main subjunctive tenses of “oír”:

• Present Subjunctive: Expresses present uncertainty or desires (e.g., Que yo oiga – That I hear).
• Imperfect Subjunctive: Expresses past uncertainty or hypothetical situations (e.g., Que él oyera/oyese – That he heard/would hear).
• Future Subjunctive: Rarely used, mainly in legal or formal contexts (e.g., Si yo oyere – If I should hear).

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The imperative forms of “oír” are used to tell someone to listen.

• Imperative: Gives commands (e.g., Oye – Listen).

Examples of “Oír” in Use

To solidify your understanding, let’s explore examples of “oír” conjugated in different tenses and moods. These examples will demonstrate how to use “oír” in various contexts.

Present Indicative

The present indicative tense describes actions happening now. Note the stem change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Oigo	I hear
Tú	Oyes	You hear
Él/Ella/Usted	Oye	He/She/You (formal) hear
Nosotros	Oímos	We hear
Vosotros	Oís	You (plural, informal) hear
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyen	They/You (plural, formal) hear
Yo	Oigo la música.	I hear the music.
Tú	Oyes el teléfono.	You hear the phone.
Él	Oye a los pájaros cantar.	He hears the birds singing.
Ella	Oye el viento.	She hears the wind.
Usted	Oye la noticia en la radio.	You hear the news on the radio. (formal)
Nosotros	Oímos a los niños jugar.	We hear the children playing.
Vosotros	Oís el mar desde la ventana.	You hear the sea from the window. (plural, informal)
Ellos	Oyen un ruido extraño.	They hear a strange noise.
Ellas	Oyen a su madre hablar.	They hear their mother talking.
Ustedes	Oyen el anuncio en la televisión.	You hear the advertisement on television. (plural, formal)
Yo	Oigo voces en mi cabeza.	I hear voices in my head.
Tú	Oyes el eco en la montaña.	You hear the echo in the mountain.
Él	Oye el tren pasar.	He hears the train passing.
Ella	Oye el tic-tac del reloj.	She hears the ticking of the clock.
Nosotros	Oímos el concierto en vivo.	We hear the live concert.
Vosotros	Oís el agua correr.	You hear the water running. (plural, informal)
Ellos	Oyen el ladrido del perro.	They hear the dog barking.
Ustedes	Oyen las campanas de la iglesia.	You hear the church bells. (plural, formal)
Yo	Oigo el viento soplar.	I hear the wind blowing.
Tú	Oyes la lluvia caer.	You hear the rain falling.

This table illustrates the present indicative conjugation of “oír” with example sentences.

Preterite Indicative

The preterite indicative tense describes completed actions in the past. Notice the “y” in the third-person singular and plural forms.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Oí	I heard
Tú	Oíste	You heard
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyó	He/She/You (formal) heard
Nosotros	Oímos	We heard
Vosotros	Oísteis	You (plural, informal) heard
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeron	They/You (plural, formal) heard
Yo	Oí un ruido fuerte.	I heard a loud noise.
Tú	Oíste la explosión.	You heard the explosion.
Él	Oyó las noticias en la radio.	He heard the news on the radio.
Ella	Oyó la canción en la fiesta.	She heard the song at the party.
Usted	Oyó el discurso del presidente.	You heard the president’s speech. (formal)
Nosotros	Oímos el concierto anoche.	We heard the concert last night.
Vosotros	Oísteis el trueno durante la tormenta.	You heard the thunder during the storm. (plural, informal)
Ellos	Oyeron el llanto del bebé.	They heard the baby crying.
Ellas	Oyeron el timbre de la puerta.	They heard the doorbell.
Ustedes	Oyeron el anuncio en el aeropuerto.	You heard the announcement at the airport. (plural, formal)
Yo	Oí a mi vecino cantar.	I heard my neighbor singing.
Tú	Oíste el secreto que te conté.	You heard the secret I told you.
Él	Oyó el rugido del león en el zoológico.	He heard the lion’s roar at the zoo.
Ella	Oyó el rumor en la oficina.	She heard the rumor in the office.
Nosotros	Oímos la banda tocar en la calle.	We heard the band playing in the street.
Vosotros	Oísteis las sirenas de la ambulancia.	You heard the ambulance sirens. (plural, informal)
Ellos	Oyeron el grito de auxilio.	They heard the cry for help.
Ustedes	Oyeron la explicación del profesor.	You heard the professor’s explanation. (plural, formal)
Yo	Oí el mensaje en el contestador.	I heard the message on the answering machine.
Tú	Oíste mi consejo.	You heard my advice.

This table shows the preterite indicative conjugation of “oír” with example sentences.

Imperfect Indicative

The imperfect indicative tense describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Oía	I used to hear/was hearing
Tú	Oías	You used to hear/were hearing
Él/Ella/Usted	Oía	He/She/You (formal) used to hear/was hearing
Nosotros	Oíamos	We used to hear/were hearing
Vosotros	Oíais	You (plural, informal) used to hear/were hearing
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oían	They/You (plural, formal) used to hear/were hearing
Yo	Oía los cuentos de mi abuela.	I used to hear my grandmother’s stories.
Tú	Oías el canto de los grillos por la noche.	You used to hear the crickets chirping at night.
Él	Oía la radio todas las mañanas.	He used to hear the radio every morning.
Ella	Oía a su padre tocar el piano.	She used to hear her father playing the piano.
Usted	Oía las campanas de la iglesia desde su casa.	You used to hear the church bells from your house. (formal)
Nosotros	Oíamos las olas del mar desde el balcón.	We used to hear the ocean waves from the balcony.
Vosotros	Oíais las risas de los niños en el parque.	You used to hear the children’s laughter in the park. (plural, informal)
Ellos	Oían el tren pasar varias veces al día.	They used to hear the train passing several times a day.
Ellas	Oían los rumores en el pueblo.	They used to hear the rumors in the town.
Ustedes	Oían el ruido del tráfico desde su oficina.	You used to hear the traffic noise from your office. (plural, formal)
Yo	Oía las historias de fantasmas en el campamento.	I used to hear ghost stories at the camp.
Tú	Oías las noticias en la televisión.	You used to hear the news on television.
Él	Oía el despertador sonar cada mañana.	He used to hear the alarm clock ringing every morning.
Ella	Oía la voz de su madre al teléfono.	She used to hear her mother’s voice on the phone.
Nosotros	Oíamos la música en la fiesta.	We were hearing the music at the party.
Vosotros	Oíais el viento soplar fuerte.	You were hearing the wind blowing strongly. (plural, informal)
Ellos	Oían a los músicos tocar en la plaza.	They were hearing the musicians playing in the square.
Ustedes	Oían el discurso del político.	You were hearing the politician’s speech. (plural, formal)
Yo	Oía el mar cuando vivía cerca de la playa.	I used to hear the sea when I lived near the beach.
Tú	Oías a los niños cantar villancicos en Navidad.	You used to hear the children singing carols at Christmas.

This table presents the imperfect indicative conjugation of “oír” with example sentences.

Future Indicative

The future indicative tense describes actions that will happen in the future.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Oiré	I will hear
Tú	Oirás	You will hear
Él/Ella/Usted	Oirá	He/She/You (formal) will hear
Nosotros	Oiremos	We will hear
Vosotros	Oiréis	You (plural, informal) will hear
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oirán	They/You (plural, formal) will hear
Yo	Oiré las noticias mañana.	I will hear the news tomorrow.
Tú	Oirás mi nueva canción pronto.	You will hear my new song soon.
Él	Oirá el resultado del examen la semana que viene.	He will hear the result of the exam next week.
Ella	Oirá el discurso del director en la graduación.	She will hear the principal’s speech at graduation.
Usted	Oirá el informe completo en la junta.	You will hear the full report at the meeting. (formal)
Nosotros	Oiremos el concierto en el parque.	We will hear the concert in the park.
Vosotros	Oiréis las campanas de boda.	You will hear the wedding bells. (plural, informal)
Ellos	Oirán el anuncio por el altavoz.	They will hear the announcement over the loudspeaker.
Ellas	Oirán la respuesta del jurado.	They will hear the jury’s answer.
Ustedes	Oirán la explicación del guía turístico.	You will hear the tour guide’s explanation. (plural, formal)
Yo	Oiré tu opinión sobre el proyecto.	I will hear your opinion about the project.
Tú	Oirás mi consejo cuando sea demasiado tarde.	You will hear my advice when it’s too late.
Él	Oirá los aplausos del público.	He will hear the applause of the audience.
Ella	Oirá el veredicto del juez.	She will hear the judge’s verdict.
Nosotros	Oiremos a los expertos hablar sobre el tema.	We will hear the experts speak about the topic.
Vosotros	Oiréis las noticias importantes en la tele.	You will hear the important news on TV. (plural, informal)
Ellos	Oirán el sonido de las olas del mar.	They will hear the sound of the ocean waves.
Ustedes	Oirán las preguntas de los estudiantes.	You will hear the students’ questions. (plural, formal)
Yo	Oiré la verdad algún día.	I will hear the truth someday.
Tú	Oirás mi disculpa.	You will hear my apology.

This table illustrates the future indicative conjugation of “oír” with example sentences.

Conditional Indicative

The conditional indicative tense describes actions that would happen under certain conditions.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Oiría	I would hear
Tú	Oirías	You would hear
Él/Ella/Usted	Oiría	He/She/You (formal) would hear
Nosotros	Oiríamos	We would hear
Vosotros	Oiríais	You (plural, informal) would hear
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oirían	They/You (plural, formal) would hear
Yo	Oiría esa canción si tuviera un reproductor de música.	I would hear that song if I had a music player.
Tú	Oirías el mar si vivieras cerca de la costa.	You would hear the sea if you lived near the coast.
Él	Oiría la verdad si preguntara.	He would hear the truth if he asked.
Ella	Oiría las noticias si encendiera la televisión.	She would hear the news if she turned on the television.
Usted	Oiría la conferencia si asistiera al evento.	You would hear the conference if you attended the event. (formal)
Nosotros	Oiríamos el concierto si tuviéramos entradas.	We would hear the concert if we had tickets.
Vosotros	Oiríais el sonido de la lluvia si abrierais la ventana.	You would hear the sound of the rain if you opened the window. (plural, informal)
Ellos	Oirían el anuncio si estuvieran presentes.	They would hear the announcement if they were present.
Ellas	Oirían la respuesta si esperaran.	They would hear the answer if they waited.
Ustedes	Oirían la explicación si prestaran atención.	You would hear the explanation if you paid attention. (plural, formal)
Yo	Oiría su opinión si me la diera.	I would hear his/her opinion if he/she gave it to me.
Tú	Oirías el consejo si lo siguieras.	You would hear the advice if you followed it.
Él	Oiría los aplausos si actuara bien.	He would hear the applause if he performed well.
Ella	Oiría el premio si ganara.	She would hear about the prize if she won.
Nosotros	Oiríamos a los expertos si los invitáramos.	We would hear the experts if we invited them.
Vosotros	Oiríais las noticias si leyeráis el periódico.	You would hear the news if you read the newspaper. (plural, informal)
Ellos	Oirían el sonido si estuviera más alto.	They would hear the sound if it were louder.
Ustedes	Oirían las preguntas si estuvieran en clase.	You would hear the questions if you were in class. (plural, formal)
Yo	Oiría la verdad si me la contaran.	I would hear the truth if they told it to me.
Tú	Oirías mi disculpa si me dejaras hablar.	You would hear my apology if you let me speak.

This table shows the conditional indicative conjugation of “oír” with example sentences.

Present Subjunctive

The present subjunctive expresses doubt, uncertainty, wishes, or emotions in the present.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Oiga	That I hear/may hear
Tú	Oigas	That you hear/may hear
Él/Ella/Usted	Oiga	That he/she/you (formal) hear/may hear
Nosotros	Oigamos	That we hear/may hear
Vosotros	Oigáis	That you (plural, informal) hear/may hear
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oigan	That they/you (plural, formal) hear/may hear
Espero que yo oiga buenas noticias pronto.	Espero que oiga buenas noticias pronto.	I hope that I hear good news soon.
Es importante que tú oigas la verdad.	Es importante que oigas la verdad.	It’s important that you hear the truth.
Quiero que él oiga mi versión de la historia.	Quiero que oiga mi versión de la historia.	I want him to hear my version of the story.
Es necesario que ella oiga lo que tengo que decir.	Es necesario que oiga lo que tengo que decir.	It’s necessary that she hears what I have to say.
Espero que usted oiga este consejo.	Espero que oiga este consejo.	I hope that you (formal) hear this advice.
Es bueno que nosotros oigamos diferentes opiniones.	Es bueno que oigamos diferentes opiniones.	It’s good that we hear different opinions.
Dudo que vosotros oigáis la diferencia.	Dudo que oigáis la diferencia.	I doubt that you (plural, informal) hear the difference.
Es posible que ellos oigan el ruido de la calle.	Es posible que oigan el ruido de la calle.	It’s possible that they hear the street noise.
Ojalá que ellas oigan mis palabras.	Ojalá que oigan mis palabras.	I wish that they would hear my words.
Es necesario que ustedes oigan las instrucciones.	Es necesario que oigan las instrucciones.	It’s necessary that you (plural, formal) hear the instructions.
No creo que yo oiga nada.	No creo que oiga nada.	I don’t think I hear anything.
Quizás tú oigas algo diferente.	Quizás oigas algo diferente.	Maybe you hear something different.
Es raro que él no oiga el teléfono.	Es raro que no oiga el teléfono.	It’s strange that he doesn’t hear the phone.
Es sorprendente que ella no oiga la música.	Es sorprendente que no oiga la música.	It’s surprising that she doesn’t hear the music.
Es fundamental que nosotros oigamos a los demás.	Es fundamental que oigamos a los demás.	It’s crucial that we listen to others.
Es preferible que vosotros oigáis la verdad.	Es preferible que oigáis la verdad.	It’s preferable that you (plural, informal) hear the truth.
Es improbable que ellos oigan mi respuesta.	Es improbable que oigan mi respuesta.	It’s unlikely that they hear my answer.
Es dudoso que ustedes oigan todos los detalles.	Es dudoso que oigan todos los detalles.	It’s doubtful that you (plural, formal) hear all the details.
Es esencial que yo o iga la alarma para despertarme.	Es esencial que oiga la alarma para despertarme.	It’s essential that I hear the alarm to wake up.

This table shows the present subjunctive conjugation of “oír” with example sentences.

Imperfect Subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive expresses past uncertainty or hypothetical situations.

Pronoun	Conjugation (-ra form)	Conjugation (-se form)	English Translation
Yo	Oyera	Oyese	That I heard/would hear
Tú	Oyeras	Oyeses	That you heard/would hear
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyera	Oyese	That he/she/you (formal) heard/would hear
Nosotros	Oyéramos	Oyésemos	That we heard/would hear
Vosotros	Oyerais	Oyeseis	That you (plural, informal) heard/would hear
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeran	Oyesen	That they/you (plural, formal) heard/would hear
Si yo oyera esa canción, me pondría a bailar.	Si yo oyese esa canción, me pondría a bailar.	If I heard that song, I would start dancing.
Si tú oyeras mi consejo, estarías mejor.	Si tú oyeses mi consejo, estarías mejor.	If you had heard my advice, you would be better off.
Quería que él oyera mi opinión antes de decidir.	Quería que él oyese mi opinión antes de decidir.	I wanted him to hear my opinion before deciding.
Esperaba que ella oyera la buena noticia.	Esperaba que ella oyese la buena noticia.	I hoped that she would hear the good news.
Era importante que usted oyera todos los detalles.	Era importante que usted oyese todos los detalles.	It was important that you (formal) hear all the details.
Nos alegramos de que nosotros oyéramos la verdad.	Nos alegramos de que nosotros oyésemos la verdad.	We were glad that we heard the truth.
Si vosotros oyerais con atención, entenderíais.	Si vosotros oyeseis con atención, entenderíais.	If you (plural, informal) listened carefully, you would understand.
Dudaba que ellos oyeran la señal.	Dudaba que ellos oyesen la señal.	I doubted that they heard the signal.
Era necesario que ellas oyeran las instrucciones.	Era necesario que ellas oyesen las instrucciones.	It was necessary that they hear the instructions.
Era esencial que ustedes oyeran la grabación.	Era esencial que ustedes oyesen la grabación.	It was essential that you (plural, formal) heard the recording.
Si yo oyera un ruido, llamaría a la policía.	Si yo oyese un ruido, llamaría a la policía.	If I heard a noise, I would call the police.
Si tú oyeras a tu madre, no estarías en este problema.	Si tú oyeses a tu madre, no estarías en este problema.	If you had listened to your mother, you wouldn’t be in this trouble.
Quería que él oyera la explicación completa.	Quería que él oyese la explicación completa.	I wanted him to hear the full explanation.
Esperaba que ella oyera las disculpas.	Esperaba que ella oyese las disculpas.	I hoped she would hear the apologies.
Era importante que nosotros oyéramos a los expertos.	Era importante que nosotros oyésemos a los expertos.	It was important that we heard the experts.
Si vosotros oyerais la música, os gustaría.	Si vosotros oyeseis la música, os gustaría.	If you (plural, informal) heard the music, you would like it.
Dudaba que ellos oyeran el anuncio.	Dudaba que ellos oyesen el anuncio.	I doubted that they heard the announcement.
Era necesario que ustedes oyeran las preguntas.	Era necesario que ustedes oyesen las preguntas.	It was necessary that you (plural, formal) heard the questions.
Si yo oyera la verdad, te perdonaría.	Si yo oyese la verdad, te perdonaría.	If I heard the truth, I would forgive you.
Si tú oyeras mi versión, entenderías.	Si tú oyeses mi versión, entenderías.	If you heard my version, you would understand.

This table shows the imperfect subjunctive conjugation of “oír” with example sentences, including both the -ra and -se forms.

Future Subjunctive (Rare)

The future subjunctive is rarely used in modern Spanish. It’s mostly found in legal or very formal contexts.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Oyere	If I should hear
Tú	Oyeres	If you should hear
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyere	If he/she/you (formal) should hear
Nosotros	Oyéremos	If we should hear
Vosotros	Oyereis	If you (plural, informal) should hear
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeren	If they/you (plural, formal) should hear
Si yo oyere algo, te lo diré.	Si yo oyere algo, te lo diré.	If I should hear anything, I will tell you.
Si tú oyeres un ruido, llama a la policía.	Si tú oyeres un ruido, llama a la policía.	If you should hear a noise, call the police.
Si él oyere la señal, comenzará el juego.	Si él oyere la señal, comenzará el juego.	If he should hear the signal, the game will begin.
Si ella oyere la respuesta, estará feliz.	Si ella oyere la respuesta, estará feliz.	If she should hear the answer, she will be happy.
Si usted oyere algo sospechoso, infórmelo.	Si usted oyere algo sospechoso, infórmelo.	If you (formal) should hear anything suspicious, report it.
Si nosotros oyéremos la verdad, actuaremos.	Si nosotros oyéremos la verdad, actuaremos.	If we should hear the truth, we will act.
Si vosotros oyereis algo, avisadnos.	Si vosotros oyereis algo, avisadnos.	If you (plural, informal) should hear anything, let us know.
Si ellos oyeren el veredicto, lo aceptarán.	Si ellos oyeren el veredicto, lo aceptarán.	If they should hear the verdict, they will accept it.
Si ellas oyeren la confirmación, se alegrarán.	Si ellas oyeren la confirmación, se alegrarán.	If they should hear the confirmation, they will be happy.
Si ustedes oyeren mi nombre, sabrán que gané.	Si ustedes oyeren mi nombre, sabrán que gané.	If you (plural, formal) should hear my name, you will know that I won.

This table shows the future subjunctive conjugation of “oír” with example sentences. Remember, this tense is rarely used.

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Tú	Oye	Listen
Usted	Oiga	Listen (formal)
Nosotros	Oigamos	Let’s listen
Vosotros	Oíd	Listen (plural, informal)
Ustedes	Oigan	Listen (plural, formal)
Oye, necesito hablar contigo.	Oye, necesito hablar contigo.	Listen, I need to talk to you.
Oiga, por favor, preste atención.	Oiga, por favor, preste atención.	Listen, please pay attention. (formal)
Oigamos la música y relajémonos.	Oigamos la música y relajémonos.	Let’s listen to the music and relax.
Oíd, chicos, tengo algo importante que decir.	Oíd, chicos, tengo algo importante que decir.	Listen, guys, I have something important to say. (plural, informal)
Oigan, señores, por favor, tomen asiento.	Oigan, señores, por favor, tomen asiento.	Listen, gentlemen, please take a seat. (plural, formal)
Oye bien lo que te digo.	Oye bien lo que te digo.	Listen carefully to what I’m telling you.
Oiga atentamente las instrucciones.	Oiga atentamente las instrucciones.	Listen carefully to the instructions. (formal)
Oigamos las opiniones de todos.	Oigamos las opiniones de todos.	Let’s listen to everyone’s opinions.
Oíd con atención la explicación.	Oíd con atención la explicación.	Listen carefully to the explanation. (plural, informal)
Oigan con respeto a los demás.	Oigan con respeto a los demás.	Listen respectfully to others. (plural, formal)

This table shows the imperative conjugation of “oír” with example sentences.

Usage Rules for “Oír”

To use “oír” correctly, keep these rules in mind:

• Direct Object: “Oír” is a transitive verb, so it usually takes a direct object. The direct object is what or who is being heard. For example, “Oigo la música” (I hear the music).
• Personal “a”: When the direct object is a person, use the personal “a.” For example, “Oigo a mi hermano” (I hear my brother).
• Stem Changes: Remember the stem changes in the present tense (oigo, oyes, oye, oyen) and the preterite tense (oyó, oyeron).
• Subjunctive Use: Use the subjunctive mood when expressing doubt, uncertainty, wishes, or emotions related to hearing.

Understanding these rules will help you avoid common mistakes and use “oír” accurately.

Common Mistakes with “Oír”

Here are some common mistakes to watch out for when using “oír”:

• Forgetting the Stem Changes: One of the most common mistakes is forgetting the stem changes in the present and preterite tenses. Make sure to conjugate “oír” correctly, especially in the yo, tú, él/ella/usted and ellos/ellas/ustedes forms.
• Omitting the Personal “a”: When the direct object is a person, remember to use the personal “a.” For example, “Oigo mi madre” is incorrect; the correct form is “Oigo a mi madre”.
• Incorrect Subjunctive Use: Using the indicative mood when the subjunctive is required (or vice versa) is a common error. Ensure you use the subjunctive in clauses expressing doubt, desire, or uncertainty.
• Confusing with “Escuchar”: While both “oír” and “escuchar” relate to hearing, “oír” means “to hear” (perceive sounds), while “escuchar” means “to listen” (pay attention to sounds).

Being aware of these common mistakes will help you improve your accuracy when using “oír.”

Practice Exercises

Test your knowledge with these practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct conjugation of “oír.”

Advanced Topics: Idiomatic Expressions with “Oír”

“Oír” is also used in several idiomatic expressions that add color and nuance to the Spanish language. Here are a few examples:

• Oír campanas y no saber dónde: To hear rumors but not know the source or details.
• Hacer oídos sordos: To turn a deaf ear; to ignore.
• Oír misa: To attend Mass (literally, “to hear Mass”).

Understanding these idiomatic expressions can enrich your comprehension and expression in Spanish.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

Mastering the Spanish verb “oír” is a significant step toward fluency. By understanding its irregular conjugation patterns, usage rules, and common mistakes, you can confidently express a wide range of auditory experiences in Spanish.

Remember to practice regularly, pay attention to stem changes, and use the subjunctive mood appropriately. With dedication and effort, you’ll be able to “oír” and speak Spanish with greater accuracy and confidence.

Keep practicing, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you improve!