Which one should you use?
In Portuguese, there is a distinction between the physical act of perceiving sound and the intentional act of paying attention. While ouvir can be used for both hearing and listening, the verb escutar is specifically used when emphasizing the intention of paying attention to a sound. If you want to express the intentional act of 'to listen', escutar is the more precise choice.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, particularly Brazil, the phrase tá ligado is an informal expression used to mean 'you know' or 'listen up'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb ouvir changes according to tense and mood. The first-person singular present indicative is ouço (I hear/listen), and the first-person singular preterite is ouvi (I heard/listened). To give a polite or formal command such as 'listen!', you can use the third-person singular present subjunctive form ouça.
How do you pronounce it?
/o(w)ˈvi(ʁ)/
Did you know?
- The word ouvir descends from an ancient Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to see' or 'perceive'.
- In Brazil, you might hear someone say tá ligado? to mean 'are you listening?' or 'do you get it?', even though 'ligado' literally means 'connected' or 'switched on'.
Examples in context
- Eu não quis ouvir.I didn't care to listen.This sentence shows how to express a lack of desire to hear something using ouvir.Tatoeba #8102392 by iT4LL, translation #8102394 by iT4LL
- Você deve me ouvir.You have to listen to me.This sentence demonstrates how to use ouvir when telling someone to listen to you.Tatoeba #10645821 by pedromagia, translation #2545055 by CK
- Vamos ouvir o rádio.Let's listen to the radio.This sentence shows how to use ouvir in the context of listening to a device like the radio.Tatoeba #12329707 by Advanced, translation #10756886 by CK
- Por favor, ouça a minha apresentação com atenção.Please listen to my presentation attentively.
- Peço que prestem atenção nas instruções fornecidas.I ask that you pay attention to the given instructions.
- Os alunos devem escutar com atenção o professor na sala de aula.The students should listen attentively to the teacher in the classroom.
- Ouve, tenho uma novidade para te contar.Listen, I have some news to tell you.
- Dá ouvidos ao que te estou a dizer.Listen to what I'm telling you.
- Ouça com atenção as palavras do presidente.Listen attentively to the president's words.
- Escutem o conselho dos mais experientes.Listen to the advice of the more experienced ones.
- Ouve o som das ondas do mar.Listen to the sound of the ocean waves.
- Dá ouvidos às palavras dos mais velhos.Listen to the words of the elders.
- Tá ligado no que eu estou falando?Are you listening to what I'm saying?
- Podemos ouvir música durante o trajeto.We can listen to music during the journey.
- 101 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Gabriel are in a park.
- CamilaVocê consegue ouvir aquele pássaro?Can you hear that bird?
- GabrielNão, não consigo ouvir nada.No, I can't hear anything.
- CamilaTente ouvir com atenção agora.Try to listen carefully now.
- GabrielAh, agora eu consegui ouvir!Oh, now I could hear it!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ouvir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ouvir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
