escuchar

Escuchar is a Spanish verb meaning to listen with attention or to hear. It denotes intentional listening to sounds, voices, or messages, and is distinct from oír, which conveys merely the act of hearing. In everyday use, escuchar often implies focusing on what is being said, sung, or broadcast, rather than passive perception.

The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object for what is heard: escuchar música, escuchar un podcast, escuchar un discurso. When the target is a person, the construction uses the preposition a: escuchar a alguien (to listen to someone). It can also appear with adverbial phrases such as escuchar atentamente or escuchar con atención.

Conjugation: escuchar is a regular -ar verb. Present indicative: yo escucho, tú escuchas, él escucha, nosotros escuchamos, vosotros escucháis, ellos escuchan. Preterite: escuché, escuchaste, escuchó, escuchamos, escuchasteis, escucharon. Imperfect: escuchaba, escuchabas, escuchaba, escuchábamos, escuchabais, escuchaban. Imperative: escucha (tú), escuche (usted), escuchen (ustedes).

Pronunciation: /es.kuˈt͡ʃaɾ/ with the final syllable stressed. The 'ch' represents the postalveolar affricate. Etymology: from Latin auscultare, through the evolution of Romance languages; cognates appear in French écouter.