Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Eye in Spanish
Ojo · noun · OH-hoh
The Spanish word for eye is 'ojo,' one of the most fundamental body part terms in the language. The plural is 'ojos.' Beyond its literal meaning, 'ojo' appears in many expressions and idioms, including '¡Ojo!' as a warning meaning 'Watch out!'
Pronounce it as OH-hoh, with two syllables and the stress on the first. The 'j' has a soft 'h' sound, making the word easy for English speakers to learn.
Tiene los ojos más bonitos que he visto.
She has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.
How Native Speakers Use Ojo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Describing appearance
Mi madre tiene ojos verdes y mi padre ojos marrones.
My mother has green eyes and my father brown eyes.
Talking about eye color in a family.
Warning someone
¡Ojo con el escalón, te puedes caer!
Watch out for the step, you could fall!
Using ojo as a warning interjection.
Medical visit
Me duele el ojo izquierdo desde ayer.
My left eye has been hurting since yesterday.
Describing an eye problem to a doctor.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ojo
Wrong plural
Incorrect: Tengo los ojoes rojos.
Correct: Tengo los ojos rojos.
The plural of 'ojo' is simply 'ojos,' following the regular rule of adding '-s' to words ending in a vowel.
Article confusion
Incorrect: Cierra ojo.
Correct: Cierra el ojo.
Spanish requires the definite article 'el' before body parts when giving instructions, unlike English which can omit it.
Lock in eye Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Ojo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ojo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Tiene los ojos más bonitos que he visto. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About eye in Spanish
- What does ¡Ojo! mean as an expression?
- When used as an exclamation, '¡Ojo!' serves as a warning meaning 'Watch out!' or 'Be careful!' — it is one of the most common cautionary expressions in everyday Spanish.
- How do you describe eye color in Spanish?
- Describe eye color using 'ojos' followed by the color: 'ojos azules' (blue eyes), 'ojos verdes' (green eyes), 'ojos marrones' (brown eyes), or 'ojos negros' (black/very dark eyes).
- What are common Spanish expressions using ojo?
- Popular expressions include 'a ojo' (by eye, approximately), 'mal de ojo' (evil eye), 'ojo por ojo' (eye for an eye), and 'echar un ojo' (to take a look).