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Author: Subject: escuchar (to listen to) vs. oir (to hear)
bajalinda
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[*] posted on 3-31-2012 at 09:34 AM
escuchar (to listen to) vs. oir (to hear)


We are having a debate at our house about the use of these 2 verbs.

Can "escuchar" sometimes also mean "hear" instead of "listen to"?

Example: No escuchamos nada. = We didn't hear anything.

Or is it better to say: "No oimos nada" if you want to say "We didn't hear anything." ?

We seem to notice people using "escuchar" when we would use "hear" in English.
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woody with a view
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[*] posted on 3-31-2012 at 09:38 AM


i think escuchar means "to listen" as oppossed to "listen to".

what did i win?;)

[Edited on 3-31-2012 by woody with a view]




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Tano
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[*] posted on 3-31-2012 at 10:04 AM


In general, escuchar is the equivalent of ‘listen’ and oír, of ‘hear’, but colloquially, sometimes escuchar is used when oír is correct. For example, related to news/gossip:

Q. ¿Te enteraste que se murió fulano?
A. No escuché nada.

[Edited on 3-31-2012 by Tano]
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Cyanide41
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[*] posted on 3-31-2012 at 03:31 PM


I agree with Tano. I think it is pretty common to interchange escuchar for oír, but don't take my word on it.
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bajalinda
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[*] posted on 4-1-2012 at 06:40 AM


Thanks everyone - that's pretty much what we've been thinking - that it must be a colloquial thing. At least we know we are hearing and listening correctly and not imagining it.
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