Observation can take time or reveal a detail.

The idea

Observar can mean to watch carefully or notice; it takes a direct object and has regular present forms.

Patterns to compare
PersonaPresente
yoobservo
túobservas
él / ella / ustedobserva
nosotros / nosotrasobservamos
vosotros / vosotrasobserváis
ellos / ellas / ustedesobservan

Examples

  • Observo las nubes desde la ventana.I watch the clouds from the window.
  • ¿Observas cómo crece la planta?Are you observing how the plant grows?
  • La bióloga observa a las aves.The biologist observes the birds.
  • Observamos el agua durante una hora.We watch the water for an hour.
  • Ellos observaron una grieta en la pared.They noticed a crack in the wall.
  • He observado cambios en el barrio.I have observed changes in the neighbourhood.

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

Watch out

A person as direct object normally takes a: observo a la médica.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct form: Yo ___ el cielo. (observo / observas)

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    observo

    observo matches the speaker.

  2. Choose the correct form: Nosotros ___ el experimento. (observamos / observáis)

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    observamos

    observamos includes the speaker in the group.

  3. Choose the correct form: Ella ___ la mancha ayer. (observó / observo)

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    observó

    observó marks a completed past event.

Use it today

Describe something you watch change over time.