Spanish grammar · Beginner
Escuchar Conjugation: Every Tense with Examples
Escuchar means to listen (to). Fully regular -ar verb. Used for active listening, distinct from oír (to hear passively).
Escucho música.
I'm listening to music.
What it is
Escuchar means to listen (to). Fully regular -ar verb in every tense. Escuchar is for active listening (paying attention), different from oír, which is passive hearing.
In Escucho música (I'm listening to music), escucho is the regular yo present. No preposition before the object in standard Spanish, Escucho la radio (not Escucho a la radio).
How to spot it
Fully regular in every tense. No preposition before things; escuchar a + person is acceptable.
- Escúchame. — Listen to me.
- Escuché tu mensaje. — I listened to your message.
- Estaba escuchando música. — I was listening to music.
Escuchar vs. oír: escuchar is active (paying attention); oír is passive (sound registering). ¿Me escuchas? = Are you listening to me? ¿Me oyes? = Can you hear me?
Escuchar Conjugation Quick Reference
Escuchar at a glance, the most-used forms across tenses
| Person | Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Future | Subjunctive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | escucho | escuché | escuchaba | escucharé | escuche |
| tú | escuchas | escuchaste | escuchabas | escucharás | escuches |
| él/ella/Ud. | escucha | escuchó | escuchaba | escuchará | escuche |
| nosotros | escuchamos | escuchamos | escuchábamos | escucharemos | escuchemos |
| vosotros | escucháis | escuchasteis | escuchabais | escucharéis | escuchéis |
| ellos/Uds. | escuchan | escucharon | escuchaban | escucharán | escuchen |
Common Escuchar Conjugation Examples in Spanish
Escuchar covers listening to music, people, podcasts, and giving someone attention:
Listening to Music / Audio
- Escucho música clásica.
- I listen to classical music.
- Escuchamos un podcast.
- We're listening to a podcast.
- Escuchó la radio toda la noche.
- He listened to the radio all night.
Default for any audio, music, radio, podcasts, audiobooks.
Listening to People
- Escúchame, es importante.
- Listen to me, it's important.
- No me escuchó.
- He didn't listen to me.
- ¿Estás escuchando?
- Are you listening?
Escuchar a + person is common when listening to someone speak.
Past Habits (Imperfect)
- De niña escuchaba a mi abuela cantar.
- As a kid, I used to listen to my grandma sing.
- Antes escuchaba más radio.
- Before, I used to listen to more radio.
Imperfect for ongoing past listening habits.
Listening = Heeding Advice
- Deberías escuchar a tu madre.
- You should listen to your mother.
- No escucha consejos.
- He doesn't take advice.
Escuchar also means to heed / take advice, same metaphor as English.
How to Conjugate Escuchar Across Tenses
Present, Fully Regular -ar
All forms regular: escucho, escuchas, escucha, escuchamos, escucháis, escuchan.
Yo escucho, tú escuchas, él escucha, nosotros escuchamos, vosotros escucháis, ellos escuchan.
I listen, you listen, he listens, we listen, you all listen, they listen.
Same pattern as canto, miro, hablo.
Preterite / Imperfect / Future, Regular
Preterite: escuché, escuchaste, escuchó. Imperfect: escuchaba. Future: escucharé. All regular.
Escuché tu mensaje. Antes escuchaba más radio. Escucharé tu consejo.
I listened to your message. Before, I used to listen to more radio. I'll listen to your advice.
No irregularities anywhere.
Escuchar vs. Oír
Escuchar = active listening (paying attention). Oír = passive hearing (sound registering). ¿Me escuchas? = Are you paying attention to me? vs. ¿Me oyes? = Can you hear me (do you hear my voice)?
Te escucho. (I'm listening, paying attention.) vs. Te oigo. (I can hear you.)
I'm listening to you (active) vs. I hear you (perception).
When directing attention to audio, use escuchar. When confirming you can hear someone, use oír.
Subjunctive, Regular
Present subjunctive: escuche, escuches, escuche, escuchemos, escuchéis, escuchen.
Quiero que escuches esta canción.
I want you to listen to this song.
Regular -ar subjunctive.
Common Mistakes with Escuchar Conjugation
Incorrect: Te oigo, dime más. — I'm listening to you, tell me more. (better with escucho, you're paying attention)
Correct: Te escucho, dime más. — I'm listening to you, tell me more.
Te oigo just means I can hear your voice. Te escucho means I'm actively paying attention. Pick the one that fits the context, escuchar is more engaged.
Incorrect: Escucho a la radio. — I'm listening to the radio. (no a before a thing)
Correct: Escucho la radio. — I'm listening to the radio.
Escuchar takes a direct object without a preposition for things. Escuchar a + person is acceptable, but escuchar la radio / música is standard.
Incorrect: Quiero que escuchas. — I want you to listen. (wrong, querer que triggers subjunctive)
Correct: Quiero que escuches. — I want you to listen.
Querer que + different subject triggers subjunctive. Escuches (subjunctive), not escuchas (indicative).
Escuchar Across Every Tense
Fully regular -ar verb. The key distinction is escuchar vs. oír (active listening vs. passive hearing).
Present (Regular)
Fully regular -ar.
| yo |
| tú |
| él/ella/usted |
| nosotros |
| vosotros |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes |
Same pattern as miro, canto, hablo.
Preterite (Regular)
Fully regular.
| yo |
| tú |
| él/ella/usted |
| nosotros |
| vosotros |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes |
Escuché tu mensaje = I listened to your message.
Imperfect (Regular)
Regular -ar imperfect.
| yo |
| tú |
| él/ella/usted |
| nosotros |
| vosotros |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes |
De niña escuchaba radios viejas = As a kid I used to listen to old radios.
Future, Conditional, Subjunctive
All regular.
| yo (future) |
| yo (conditional) |
| yo (present subjunctive) |
| yo (present perfect) |
Past participle escuchado is regular.
Escuchar Conjugation FAQs
- What does escuchar mean and when do you use it in Spanish?
- Escuchar means to listen (to), actively paying attention to audio or someone speaking. Used for music (Escucho música), podcasts (Escuchamos un podcast), people (Escúchame), and heeding advice (No escucha consejos).
- How does escuchar conjugate in the present tense?
- Escucho, escuchas, escucha, escuchamos, escucháis, escuchan. Fully regular -ar, no irregularities.
- What's the difference between escuchar and oír?
- Escuchar = active listening (paying attention, engaging). Oír = passive hearing (sound registering, perception). ¿Me escuchas? = Are you listening to me? (paying attention) vs. ¿Me oyes? = Can you hear me? (perception). Pick based on the level of attention implied.
- Do you use a preposition before what you're listening to?
- No preposition before things, escucho la radio, escucho música. Escuchar a + person is acceptable (Escucho a mi madre), but the a is optional with things.
- How can I get better at conjugating escuchar?
- Escuchar is everyday vocabulary, music, podcasts, conversations. Exposure to escucho / escuché / escuchaba in real contexts is the fastest path. Parrot's daily videos feature escuchar constantly.