ojo
/ˈoxo/masculine
In Spanish, the word for eye is ojo. Wiktionary also lists clisos and lucero.
Meaning: organ (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ojo | /ˈoxo/ | masculine |
| clisos | /klisos/ (from spelling rules) | masculine, plural |
| lucero | /luˈθeɾo/ /luˈseɾo/ |
masculine, poetic |
The term refers to the organ of sight. It is also found in several common idioms, such as Tener ojos en la nuca, which means to have eyes in the back of one's head (to be very observant) and Ver algo con buenos ojos, meaning to look favorably upon something.
Which one should you use?
While ojo is the standard term, lucero is used in a poetic context to refer to a bright eye or a shining star.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The poetic form lucero should be reserved for literary or highly stylized speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the word mirada (meaning gaze or look) is occasionally used to indirectly refer to the eyes, specifically signifying the way someone looks or gazes.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular masculine form is ojo. The plural form is ojos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈoxo/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word ojo is frequently used as a standalone exclamation to tell someone to 'watch out' or 'pay attention'.
- The phrase mal de ojo refers to the 'evil eye', a traditional belief in various Spanish-speaking cultures that a malicious glare can cause misfortune.
- The term ojo de buey literally means 'eye of the ox' but is used to describe a porthole on a ship or a specific type of recessed ceiling light.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué ojo te duele?Which eye is hurting you?This sentence is useful for asking which eye is causing pain.Tatoeba #737895 by Shishir, translation #664027 by bluepie88
- Tengo un ojo morado.I have a black eye.This sentence is useful for describing a black eye.Tatoeba #1545505 by Shishir, translation #2692270 by Gulo_Luscus
- Él me pegó en el ojo.He hit me in the eye.This sentence is useful for stating that someone was hit in the eye.Tatoeba #2343434 by marcelostockle, translation #298004 by CK
- Me gusta el color de tus ojos.I like the color of your eyes.
- Tiene una chispa especial en los ojos.He/She has a special sparkle in their eyes.
- Grandes ojosBig eyes
- Hermosos ojosBeautiful eyes
- Brillantes ojosBright eyes
- 135 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are at the doctor's office.
- Javier¿Te duele el ojo izquierdo, Sofía?Does your left eye hurt, Sofía?
- SofíaSí, me duele mucho el ojo.Yes, my eye hurts a lot.
- JavierDéjame mirar tu ojo de cerca.Let me look at your eye closely.
- SofíaGracias, Javier, por ayudarme.Thank you, Javier, for helping me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eye” translations and entries ojo, lucero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
