mirar
/miˈɾaɾ/
The English phrase "look at" is translated into Spanish as mirar.
mirar is used to express the action of observing or watching something. It is distinct from the verb ver, which means "to see" and refers to the actual perception of sight, whereas mirar refers to the act of directing your gaze toward something.
Meaning: observe or watch (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, particularly Mexico, the informal phrase Fíjate en is used to mean "look at" or "pay attention to".
How does it change in a sentence?
mirar is a transitive verb. When the object you are looking at is a thing, you do not need a preposition like "a". However, when the object is a person, you often need to include the personal "a". If you are using the imperative command form, you attach the object pronoun to the end of the verb, such as in míralo (look at it).
How do you pronounce it?
/miˈɾaɾ/
Did you know?
- In some regions, mirar is used colloquially to mean 'to seek' or 'to look for'. For example, estoy mirando un apartamento can mean 'I am looking for an apartment'.
- The Spanish verb mirar actually comes from the Latin verb 'mirari', which meant 'to marvel at'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the phrase echar un vistazo is a very common idiomatic way to say 'take a look' at something quickly.
Examples in context
- No puedo ni mirarte.I can't even look at you.This sentence shows the use of mirar when referring to a person.Tatoeba #6157057 by marcelostockle, translation #1951563 by CK
- Y ahora quiero mirarlo.And now I want to look at it.This sentence shows the use of mirar when referring to a thing.Tatoeba #1126167 by cueyayotl, translation #9732876 by 6dDcHYgMAg
- ¿Podría mirar ese libro?Could I look at that book?This sentence shows the use of mirar when asking to look at a book.Tatoeba #3143794 by cueyayotl, translation #2480005 by sharptoothed
- Observa el paisaje hermoso que nos rodea.Look at the beautiful landscape that surrounds us.
- Por favor, dirija su atención a la presentación.Please, look at/direct your attention to the presentation.
- Mira ese perro tan lindo.Look at that cute dog.
- Échale un vistazo a este video.Take a look at this video.
- Fíjate en esa pintura.Look at that painting.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are at an art gallery.
- JavierSofía, tienes que mirar este cuadro.Sofía, you have to look at this painting.
- SofíaEs increíble, me encanta el color.It's incredible, I love the color.
- JavierMira los detalles en el fondo.Look at the details in the background.
- SofíaTienes razón, es muy detallado.You're right, it is very detailed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “look at” translations and entries mirar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mirar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
