ver
/ˈbeɾ/
The English phrase 'see' is translated into Spanish as ver.
Ver is the most straightforward and versatile word for 'see' in Spanish, used to describe the act of perceiving something with the eyes. In a conversational context, you might use the idiom ¡Ya veo! to say 'I see!' in the sense of 'I understand' or 'I see what you mean'.
Meaning: perceive with the eyes (verb)
Which one should you use?
While ver means to perceive with the eyes, the verb mirar is used when there is an intentional action of looking at or watching something. For a more formal synonym that implies observing or watching something intentionally, you can use observar. If you want to say 'take a look', you can use the expression echar un vistazo.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Ver is an irregular verb in many tenses. In the present tense, it is conjugated as veo, ves, ve, vemos, veis and ven. In the preterite tense, the forms are vi, viste, vio, vimos, visteis and vieron. The past participle is also irregular, taking the form visto instead of the expected vido.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbeɾ/
Did you know?
- The English words 'view', 'wit', and 'wise' are actually distant relatives of the Spanish ver, all sharing a common ancestor from the same ancient root.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, if someone says ¡A ver! they are not just saying 'Let's see', but are often using it as a filler phrase similar to 'Let me think' or 'Hold on'.
- The word visto is the past participle of ver and also serves as a noun meaning 'seen' or 'stamped' for approval on official documents.
Examples in context
- Se va a ver.She'll see herself.This sentence shows the use of ver.Tatoeba #7160144 by arh, translation #8165610 by magnificentgoddess
- No la veré más.I'll see her no more.Tatoeba #661359 by Shishir, translation #255798 by AlanF_US
- ¿Qué vas a ver?What are you going to see?Tatoeba #1350959 by marcelostockle, translation #24709 by CK
- Es un placer verlo.It's a pleasure to see you (formal).
- Vamos a observar cuidadosamente los resultados.We are going to observe the results carefully.
- 1949 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are looking at a landscape from a balcony.
- Mateo¿Puedes ver las montañas, María?Can you see the mountains, María?
- MaríaSí, puedo verlas perfectamente.Yes, I can see them perfectly.
- MateoEs un buen momento para ver el paisaje.It is a good time to see the landscape.
- MaríaTienes razón, Mateo.You are right, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “see” translations and entries ver, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ver, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
