Ver vs. Mirar

Although the Spanish verbs ver and mirar both can mean 'to see', 'to look' or 'to watch', they usually aren't interchangeable. Ver is commonly used to indicate the simple act of seeing something or someone. While mirar is comonly used to indicate deliberate looking rather than mere seeing.

Ver: To see, to look, to watch

No puedo ver las fotos

Me gustó ver el partido de fútbol

¿Vas a ver el nuevo película de
Almodóvar?

I can't see the photos

I enjoyed watching the soccer game

Are you going to see the new movie by Almodóvar?


Mirar: To see, to look, to watch

Miraron a la derecha y a la izquierda

Cuando te miré supe que me odiarías

¡No me mires!

They looked to the right and to the left

When I saw you, I knew you would hate me

Don't look at me!