Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| zuhören | /ˈt͡suːˌhøːʁən/ | |
| hören | /ˈhøːrən/ /ˈhøːɐn/ |
|
| zuelose | Alemannic German |
The term is used when you are paying attention to a sound or a person. It implies an active, intentional effort to process what is being heard.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the verbs hören and zuhören. Use hören to refer to the general physical ability to hear or the passive perception of a sound (to hear). Use zuhören when the focus is on the active, intentional act of paying attention to a person or a specific sound (to listen).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Alemannic-German regions, the dialectal form zuelose is used to say listen.
How does it change in a sentence?
zuhören is a separable verb, meaning that in a main clause, the prefix zu- moves to the end of the sentence. It is also a dative verb, which means the person being listened to must be in the dative case.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtsuːˌhøːʁən/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the accusative case for the person you are listening to. Because English uses 'listen to', speakers often mistakenly use the accusative, but in German, the person being listened to must be in the dative case.
Did you know?
- A German speaker might say Ich höre dich to mean 'I can hear your voice' but Ich höre auf dich to mean 'I am following your advice'.
- The prefix zu- in zuhören suggests a closing or narrowing of focus, as if the listener is shutting out other noises to concentrate.
- Because zuhören requires the dative case, the grammar implies that the listener is giving their attention to the speaker as a recipient.
Examples in context
- Sie hören nicht zu.They don't listen.This sentence shows the use of the verb hören in a negative context.Tatoeba #2625651 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2243103 by CK
- Hören Sie noch Jazz?Do you still listen to jazz?This sentence shows how to use hören when asking about listening to a specific genre of music.Tatoeba #12544848 by Waldelfe, translation #6265245 by CK
- Er will nicht hören.He doesn't want to listen.This sentence demonstrates the use of hören regarding a person's willingness to listen.Tatoeba #12632155 by Waldelfe, translation #12632865 by rul
- Bitte hören Sie zu.Please listen.
- Hör mir gut zu.Listen to me carefully.
- Hör mal!Listen!
- Hör mir zu!Listen to me!
- 264 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “listen” translations and entries zuhören, hören, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
