Hear vs Listen

Hear usually means receiving a sound through your ears.

  • I can hear music.
  • Did you hear that noise?
  • I couldn’t hear what she said.

Listen means deliberately paying attention to a sound.

  • Listen to the teacher.
  • Please listen carefully.
  • I like to listen to music.

Easy way to remember

You can hear something without trying.

You listen when you deliberately pay attention.