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"Oiga" is a form of "oír", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to hear". "Joven" is an adjective which is often translated as "young". Learn more about the difference between "joven" and "oiga" below.
joven, el joven, la joven(
hoh
-
behn
)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. young
Quiero ser joven para siempre.I want to be young forever.
a. young
No puedo creer que tu abuela tenga 80 años; se ve muy joven.I can't believe your grandmother is 80; she looks very young.
b. youthful
Ella mantiene su apariencia joven usando bloqueador solar a diario.She maintains her youthful appearance by using sunblock daily.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
masculine or feminine noun
a. young person
Debe de ser difícil ser un joven hoy en día.It must be hard to be a young person these days.
b. kid
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Este candidato no tiene experiencia, pero sí mucho entusiasmo, y parece un joven muy agradable.This applicant has no experience, but he's very enthusiastic, and he seems like a nice enough kid.
c. young man (masculine)
El joven me ayudó con las bolsas.The young man helped me with my bags.
d. young woman (feminine)
La joven que está en la parada de autobús es mi prima.The young woman at the bus stop is my cousin.
e. youth
Cada joven que contratamos representa una inversión de futuro.Every youth we hire represents an investment in our future.
los jóvenes, las jóvenes
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
plural noun
a. young people
En estas tribus, los jóvenes toman ejemplo de sus mayores.In these tribes, young people look up to their elders.
b. kids
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Aunque tocaba una banda de los ochenta, en el público había muchos jóvenes.Although a band from the eighties was playing, there were many kids in the audience.
c. youth
No entiendo a los jóvenes de hoy.I can't understand the youth of today.
d. youths
Dos adultos y dos jóvenes han sido detenidos en relación con la agresión.Two adults and two youths have been arrested in connection with the assault.
e. youngsters
Unos jóvenes platicaban y reían en un banco del parque.Some youngsters were chatting and laughing on a bench in the park.
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oír(
oh
-
eer
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to hear
Las paredes son tan finas que oigo a los vecinos hablar.The walls are so thin I can hear the neighbors talking.
a. to listen to
Se pasa las tardes oyendo música.He spends all afternoon listening to music.
a. to hear
Oí la noticia del motín en la radio.I heard the news of the riot on the radio.
a. to hear
Me quejé a mucha gente, pero nadie quiso oírme.I complained to many people, but nobody wanted to hear me.
a. to get
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
“No lo vuelvas a hacer, ¿me oyes?” dijo el maestro."Don't do it again, got it?" said the teacher.
oírse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to sound
¿Qué tal se oye ahí atrás?How does it sound back there?
b. to hear
No se oía nada por el ruido del avión.Nothing could be heard over the noise of the airplane.
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
reciprocal verb
a. to hear each other
Fue una llamada muy frustrante porque no nos oíamos nada.It was a very frustrating call because we couldn't hear each other at all.
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