"Look" in Spanish is mirar: Mira el mapa means look at the map, with no extra word for "at". To say someone looks tired or looks like someone, use parecer, and to look for something, use buscar.
Written by Isabella García, Language Content Manager at WordyUpdated October 4, 2026
Hear "mirar" in real movie scenes
A TV studio and an operating room. Each video starts and stops on that line.
Vamos a mirar algunos libros.
We're going to look at some books.
A TV host shows some books to the audience, and vamos a mirar invites everyone to look at them together. The command ¡Mira! comes from the same verb.
From La cruda verdad · Spanish audio
Ah, solo le gusta mirar y hacer cosas.
Oh, he just likes to look and do things.
In an operating room, someone asks about a man nobody knows, and this is the answer. After le gusta, the verb stays in the infinitive.
From Dr. House · Spanish audio
Look, look like, look for: which verb?
English uses one verb with small words after it. Spanish uses different verbs.
English
Spanish
Example
to look at
mirar
Mira el mapa. Look at the map.
to look, to seem
parecer
Pareces cansado. You look tired.
to look like
parecerse a
Se parece a su padre. He looks like his father.
to look for
buscar
Busco las llaves. I'm looking for the keys.
to look after
cuidar
Cuido a mi hermana. I look after my sister.
to take a look
echar un vistazo
¿Puedo echar un vistazo? Can I take a look?
Tip: Ask yourself what the eyes are doing. Pointing at something on purpose is mirar. Giving an impression is parecer. Trying to find something is buscar.
Grammar: mirar, mira, miro
Four points for using the verb in a sentence.
A regular -ar verb
miro, miras, mira, miramos, miráis, miran. The infinitive is stressed at the end: mi-RAR.
No word for "at"
The thing you look at comes right after the verb: Miro el cuadro. For a person, add a: Miro a mi hermano.
¡Mira! to get attention
¡Mira! to a friend, ¡Mire! to someone you call usted. People also start an explanation with it: Mira, no tengo tiempo.
Mirar or ver
ver is to see, mirar is to look on purpose. Veo un pájaro is I see a bird, and Miro el pájaro is I'm looking at the bird.
Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
Quiero mirar un momento.
I want to take a quick look.
Tenemos que mirar dentro.
We have to look inside.
Vamos a mirar algunos libros.
We're going to look at some books.
Un momento, quiero mirar una cosa.
Just a moment, I want to check something.
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗Busco para mis llaves
✓Busco mis llaves
Buscar already includes the "for". Put the thing you're looking for right after it.
✗Miras cansado (you look tired)
✓Pareces cansado
Mirar is what your eyes do. How someone seems to others is parecer.
✗Miro mi hermano
✓Miro a mi hermano
When you look at a person, Spanish adds the personal a.
Practice: 3 quick exercises
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1 of 3 · Watch and choose
What do you hear in the video?
The other 31 exercises on this topic are in the app.
How to remember it
Mirar sounds like mirror. Picture yourself in front of a mirror: what you do there is mirar.
Mirar, as in Mira el mapa (Look at the map). To say "Look!" to a friend, use ¡Mira!
How do you say "look for" in Spanish?
Buscar, with no word for "for": Busco mis gafas means I'm looking for my glasses.
How do you say "look like" in Spanish?
Parecerse a when two people or things resemble each other: Se parece a su madre. For how someone seems, use parecer: Pareces cansado.
What's the difference between mirar and ver?
Ver is to see, and mirar is to look at something on purpose. For movies and TV, most speakers say ver: ver una película.
Learn "look" in Spanish from real movie scenes
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