These common verbs often differ in focus: visual perception versus an intentional look.

The idea

Use ver to report what you see and mirar to describe looking at something attentively; both can take a direct object.

Examples

  • Veo un cartel desde la ventana.I see a sign from the window.
  • Miro el mapa antes de salir.I look at the map before leaving.
  • ¿Ves la montaña desde aquí?Do you see the mountain from here?
  • Mira el horario, por favor.Look at the timetable, please.
  • Vemos una película en casa.We watch a film at home.
  • Miramos el cuadro con atención.We look at the painting carefully.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

The distinction is a useful tendency, not an absolute rule: ver can describe watching a film and mirar has other uses.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the verb for noticing the visible sign. ___ un cartel desde la ventana. (Veo / Miro)

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    Veo

    Veo reports the sign that is visible from the window.

  2. Choose the verb for deliberately consulting the map. ___ el mapa antes de salir. (Miro / Veo)

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    Miro

    Miro describes deliberately checking the map.

  3. Choose the verb for looking at the painting carefully. Nosotros ___ el cuadro con atención. (miramos / vemos)

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    miramos

    Miramos describes looking at the painting attentively.

Use it today

Choose the requested focus in each context and use the form matching the subject.