escuchando

Escuchar is a Spanish verb meaning to listen with attention or to hear in order to understand. It implies active engagement, in contrast to oír, which can refer merely to the sense of hearing without deliberate attention.

Etymology and forms: escuchar comes from Latin auscultare, the ancestor of related Romance forms such as Italian ascoltare and Portuguese escutar. It is a regular -ar verb. Common forms include: present tense yo escucho, tú escuchas, él escucha, nosotros escuchamos, vosotros escucháis, ellos escuchan; the gerund is escuchando, used to form progressive tenses; the past participle is escuchado.

Usage and examples: escuchar is used with a direct object to specify what is being heard, as in escuchar música or escuchar a alguien. With estar, it forms present progressive: estoy escuchando la radio. It often carries the nuance of paying attention or seeking comprehension, unlike oír, which focuses on perception. Expressions such as escuchar atentamente or escuchar un consejo are common.

Collocations and notes: typical phrases include escuchar música, escuchar a una persona, escuchar las noticias, y escuchar con atención. The gerund escuchando can function in continuous constructions but is not usually used as a noun. Misunderstandings often arise when distinguishing escuchar from oír, since both relate to hearing but with different levels of attentiveness.

See also: escuchar, oír, atención.