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"Oír" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to hear", and "traer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to bring". Learn more about the difference between "oír" and "traer" below.
oír(
oh
-
eer
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
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 hear
Me quejé a mucha gente, pero nadie quiso oírme.I complained to many people, but nobody wanted to hear me.
a. to get (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
“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.).
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
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.
traer(
trah
-
ehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to wear
La novia trae un vestido blanco largo con encaje delicado.The bride is wearing a long, white dress with delicate lace.
4. (to include)
5. (to provoke)
7. (to attract)
a. to bring
¿No sabes que hacer eso trae mala suerte?Don't you know that doing that brings bad luck?
8. (colloquial) (to have a problem with) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. to be wrong with
Oye, ¿qué traes? - No traigo nada; solo estoy muy cansado.Hey, what's wrong with you? - Nothing's wrong with me; I'm just really tired.
traerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
9. (to carry)
a. to bring
Me traje dos trajes de baño por si vamos mucho a la playa.I brought two bathing suits in case we go to the beach a lot.
b. to bring along
Tráete el perro cuando vamos al parque.Bring the dog along when we go to the park.
10. (to plot)
a. to be up to
¿Qué se trae Carlitos? Lleva una sonrisa traviesa.What's Carlitos up to? He has a mischievous grin on his face.
