hören

/ˈhøːʁən/

verb A1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Forms

present (3rd sg.): hört
past: hörte
perfect: hat gehört

Meaning

to hear

The plain root behind zuhören (to listen) and aufhören (to stop) — this entry is the missing link between those two, sitting right in the middle: hören is passive perception, zuhören adds active attention, and aufhören has drifted away from hearing entirely.
- Hörst du das?
  
  Do you hear that?
- Ich höre jeden Morgen Radio beim Frühstück. So bin ich immer informiert.
  
  I listen to the radio every morning at breakfast. That way I am always informed.

Similar words

lauschen

hören is the general verb for hearing; lauschen implies close, attentive, often secretive listening.

zuhören

This is the same distinction as English "hear" vs "listen": hören is passive perception — sound reaches your ears whether you want it to or not. zuhören is the active, attentive act of paying attention to what's being said.

Similar in other languages

Portuguese

ouvir

ouvir is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to hear."

Practice

1 What does hören mean?

2 Which fingerprint chart matches hören?

Forms

Meaning

Similar words

Practice

See also