Spanish · Everyday Verbs
"to listen" in Spanish: escuchar
escuchar
To listen in Spanish is escuchar. Present forms include escucho, escuchas, and escucha. Escuchar means you pay attention; oír is just hearing sound.
In class
Escucho al profesor con cuidado.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce escuchar
Say it
ehs-koo-CHAHR / ehs-KOO-choh
/es.ku.ˈtʃaɾ/
Escuchar is ehs-koo-CHAHR. Escucho is ehs-KOO-choh. Ch is like English church.
"to listen" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| escuchar | to listen Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| escucho | I listen First-person present. | First-person present. |
| escuchas / escucha | you listen / he-she listens Requests and habits. | Requests and habits. |
| escuchamos / escuchan | we listen / they listen Plural forms. | Plural forms. |
| escuchar música | to listen to music No extra a needed before música. | No extra a needed before música. |
How to use escuchar in real life
- 1In class
Escucho al profesor con cuidado.
I listen to the teacher carefully.
Escucho marks active attention.
- 2On the bus
¿Escuchas podcasts en el camino?
Do you listen to podcasts on the way?
Escuchas is the tú form.
- 3Shared habit
Escuchamos música suave en la noche.
We listen to soft music at night.
Escuchamos is first-person plural.
Mistakes English speakers make with escuchar
Incorrect: Yo escuchar la clase.
Correct: Yo escucho la clase.
Conjugate escuchar: yo escucho.
Incorrect: Escucho a la música.
Correct: Escucho música.
No personal a before música.
Good to know
Escuchar is the verb teachers ask for in class: escuchen, por favor. In Latin America, escuchar música needs no extra preposition before the noun.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing audio for a study session
ChatPal
¿Escuchas música cuando estudias?
Do you listen to music when you study?
You
A veces. Escucho algo instrumental.
Sometimes. I listen to something instrumental.
ChatPal
Yo escucho lluvia en la app.
I listen to rain sounds in the app.
You
Buena idea. Quiero escuchar eso también.
Good idea. I want to listen to that too.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to listen" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to listen" in Spanish
How do I conjugate escuchar in the present?
Escucho, escuchas, escucha, escuchamos, escuchan.
Escuchar or oír?
Escuchar is listen with attention. Oír is hear.
Do I say escuchar a la música?
Usually no: escuchar música.
How do you pronounce escucho?
ehs-KOO-choh. Stress on KOO.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Y in Spanish AlphabetY in spanish alphabet. Learn how y works in the Spanish alphabet, from its names (ye and i griega) to its dual consonant and vowel pronunciation
- How to Practice Speaking Spanish with AI the Smart WayLearn how to practice speaking Spanish with AI using practical routines, realistic scenarios, and feedback loops that actually build real-world fluency.
