One is about your ears, the other is about a place.
Verb. To perceive sounds with your ears. It happens naturally, without active effort.
Can you hear that noise?
¿Puedes escuchar ese ruido?
I didn't hear my alarm this morning.
No escuché mi alarma esta mañana.
Did you hear what she said?
¿Escuchaste lo que dijo?
Adverb. Indicates the place where you are or near you. The opposite of 'there'.
Come here, please.
Ven aquí, por favor.
I've never been here before.
Nunca he estado aquí antes.
Here is your coffee.
Aquí está tu café.
Common mistake
Confusing them because they sound the same. Wrong: "I can't here you." (correct: hear you) or "Come hear!" (correct: Come here!)
Trick to remember it
'Hear' contains the word 'EAR'. If you use your ear to do it, use h-EAR. 'Here' is a place — think 'WHERE? HERE!'
Quick rule
Does it involve ears or sound? Use 'hear'. Does it involve a place or location? Use 'here'.
Did you know?
'Hear, hear!' is what British Parliament members shout to show agreement with a speaker. It is always spelled 'hear, hear' — never 'here, here'. It literally means 'listen to this, listen to this'.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Can you ____ the music from next door?
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Please put your bag over ____.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Does it involve ears or sound? Use 'hear'. Does it involve a place or location? Use 'here'.
Confusing them because they sound the same. Wrong: "I can't here you." (correct: hear you) or "Come hear!" (correct: Come here!)
'Hear' contains the word 'EAR'. If you use your ear to do it, use h-EAR. 'Here' is a place — think 'WHERE? HERE!'
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy