“Ver” vs. “Mirar” in Spanish
Quick Answer
The Spanish verbs ver and mirar often cause confusion because they are both used to talk about the act of perceiving something with your eyes. Let's learn how to distinguish between these easily confused verbs!
Ver
Ver translates as to see or to watch. It is used in the following contexts:
- To express the general action of seeing somebody or something. In other words, using your sense of sight unintentionally.
- To talk about seeing/watching TV, a movie, a sporting event, etc.
- To express the action of visiting someone or a place.
- To talk about a possible result.
- To indicate understanding.
- Ver is used pronominally to talk about how someone/something looks.
For example:
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In some Spanish-speaking regions, mirar is used instead of ver in almost all the contexts listed above.
Mirar
Mirar translates as to look (at) or to watch. It is used in the following contexts:
- To express the deliberate and intentional action of seeing something or someone.
- To ask for someone’s full attention.
For example:
Ready to learn more about other tricky words in Spanish? Check out these articles!
