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Ver vs. mirar

Word practice demo
In Spanish, ver and mirar both relate to the sense of sight, but they are not interchangeable. The core difference lies in intention: ver is generally a passive perception (to see), while mirar is an active, intentional action (to look at).

Ver

A1
Ver translates to to see. It refers to the physical ability to perceive something with your eyes, often as an involuntary or passive event. It is also the correct verb for watching entertainment like movies, TV shows, and plays, and for understanding a concept.
Sin mis gafas no veo bien de lejos.
(Without my glasses I don't see well from a distance.)
Anoche vimos una serie muy interesante en la televisión.
(Last night we saw a very interesting series on television.)
¿Viste a Juan en la fiesta el sábado?
(Did you see Juan at the party on Saturday?)
Vamos al teatro a ver una obra este fin de semana.
(We are going to the theater to see a play this weekend.)
Ah, ya veo lo que quieres decir.
(Ah, now I see what you mean.)
Desde mi balcón se puede ver el mar.
(From my balcony you can see the sea.)

Mirar

A1
Mirar translates to to look at or to watch. It describes the intentional action of directing your eyes and attention towards something. It is an active verb that implies focus and purpose.
El niño miró a ambos lados antes de cruzar la calle.
(The boy looked both ways before crossing the street.)
¡Mira! Hay una estrella fugaz.
(Look! There is a shooting star.)
¿Puedes mirar a mi perro un momento?
(Can you watch my dog for a moment?)
Me gusta sentarme en el parque y mirar a la gente pasar.
(I like to sit in the park and look at people go by.)
El detective miraba las pistas con una lupa.
(The detective was looking at the clues with a magnifying glass.)
Mira debajo de la cama para ver si encuentras tus llaves.
(Look under the bed to see if you find your keys.)

Summary

In short, use ver for the passive result of seeing or when watching entertainment (TV, movies). Use mirar for the active and intentional process of directing your gaze. You miras (look) in order para ver (to see).