luister

Luister is a Dutch verb meaning to listen. In everyday language it appears in the present tense as ik luister, jij luistert, hij luistert, wij luisteren, jullie luisteren, zij luisteren, and as the imperative form Luister! to tell someone to listen. The verb belongs to the regular conjugation pattern of luisteren, with the stem luister- used across most forms.

Usage and nuance: Luisteren emphasizes paying attention and actively processing sound, as opposed to horen, which simply means to hear. It is commonly used in instructions, advice, and media contexts: Luister naar het advies. Luister naar dit liedje. In more formal situations you might hear: Luistert u naar de uitleg? The distinction between luisteren and horen helps shape communication, feedback, and learning processes.

Etymology and related terms: The Dutch verb luisteren derives from the Germanic language family and is cognate with related forms in other Germanic languages. It is etymologically related to the English verb listen, though the modern forms differ across languages. Related terms in Dutch include luisteren (to listen as an infinitive) and gehoor (hearing).