What Does "Oye" Mean? | SpanishDict Answers

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HomeQ&AWhat does "Oye" mean?What does "Oye" mean?6votes

I understand that "¡Oye!" means "Hey!", but which hey does it mean? Hey as in like "hi" or as in, "Hey! What are you doing"? (Not very nice way) Or is it both? Very confused.

77026 viewsupdated Nov 25, 2015edited by szhangposted by szhangThat's a GREAT question! I honestly don't know the answer, never though of it before... - give-me-a-kiss, Jun 3, 2013Now I do! Thanks for the question, szhang. I just learned something new that I haven't learned before! - give-me-a-kiss, Jun 3, 2013Absolutely. I am glad that in me learning an answer to my own question, someone else also learned! - szhang, Jun 3, 2013Yes!! I had studied Oye before, but I never thought of that before... It just said "Hey!" and I'm like, okay then. - give-me-a-kiss, Jun 3, 2013But you could if you want... - szhang, Jun 3, 2013Well, all brains think differently. The second I saw "Hey" I immediately thought of the question! - szhang, Jun 3, 2013Yep, brains definitely think differently, but I bet you don't want to here me go on and on about brains, do you? - give-me-a-kiss, Jun 3, 2013Ha ha you're funny. Brains are complicated though. - szhang, Jun 3, 2013Ha ha. I guess not. You make it sound bad... - szhang, Jun 3, 2013Eh, you definitely do not, and I repeat do not want to hear it. It'll go on for hours!!! - give-me-a-kiss, Jun 3, 2013

15 Answers

4votes

Oye literally means listen. But it can be used as Hey, hi, like you said.

updated Nov 25, 2015posted by francobolloThanks, but which one of the things I said? Or none? Do you know? - szhang, Jun 3, 2013It seems like you and give-me-a-kiss are saying two different things... - szhang, Jun 3, 2013You said hi, hey, hey, what's up, how's it going...they all apply. - francobollo, Jun 4, 20134votes

Oh, so it's both of what I said? All the heys that get someone's attention?

Yes. It's roughly the equivalent of how we use hey in English. Although it stems from oir, if you want to specifically say "listen" you, better off with "escucha".

It's more important to capture the usage and the feeling of the word, more so than a direct translation.

updated Nov 25, 2015posted by rodneyp2votes

Right now there is a construction project going on by my apartment. What phrase do I hear the most right now (other than grinding machines)?

You guessed it. The construction workers yelling at each other:

¡Oye!

It's the imperative tú form of the verb, oír = to hear. It can mean "Listen" as a command. Or just Hey!

updated Nov 25, 2015edited by katydewposted by katydewSo you're saying it means the second thing? As in What are you doing?? Like not in a nice way? - szhang, Jun 3, 2013No, I also heard a man talking on his phone this morning to what seemed like a friend saying, "Buenos días, bien, bien, oye... blah, blah..." The construction guys were nice, just shouting because they have to over the machines. - katydew, Jun 3, 20131vote

Hey, so my answer was right!! No pun intended for "hey!" definitely second one szhang.

updated Jun 4, 2013posted by give-me-a-kissThank you for clarification - szhang, Jun 3, 20131vote

Guys, thanks you all so much on giving me the answers and telling me what you think. I sincerely thank you all. If you (still) have more thoughts on my question, please do answer. I will read every single one of them (I have already) and take in each one. Once again, thanks. I learned so much!!

updated Jun 4, 2013posted by szhangI learned too. - give-me-a-kiss, Jun 4, 20131vote

David,

That's great that you found your song, but how did I help you? I don't think I did... Did you maybe post it on the wrong question?

updated Jun 4, 2013posted by szhangYah David. Did it have oye in it or something? - give-me-a-kiss, Jun 4, 20131vote

Oh, Rodney,

Thanks so much! I really get it now!!

updated Jun 4, 2013posted by szhang1vote

"Oye!" everybody!!! Thanks!

updated Jun 4, 2013posted by szhangOye! szhang! Oye! - give-me-a-kiss, Jun 4, 20131vote

You know, it actually might be both. It seems like common sense to me, I don't know. I'm not sure now...

updated Jun 4, 2013posted by give-me-a-kiss1vote

Oye = listen or hey - hi

but

"Listen here!" in English is much more agressive than "listen!"

updated Jun 4, 2013edited by ian-hillposted by ian-hill1vote

When I lived in Scotland for many years (until just a few months back), this was a common expression when somebody was pretty angry or annoyed about something. It was to get someone's attention, but not in a polite or nice way.

I guess it could be used different ways in different countries.

Clear as mud? Good!! enter image description here

updated Jun 4, 2013posted by FindyThank you, Findy. It seems like most of the answers are saying that it is in not a nice way, the second one. - szhang, Jun 3, 2013Love your cartoon by the way!! It's a great add-on! - szhang, Jun 3, 2013Thanks! :) - Findy, Jun 4, 20131vote

LIke in: Hey! What are you doing? - ¡Oye! ¿qué estás haciendo? Hey my man, how are you? - Oye amigo ¿Cómo estás?

I don't use the second sentence but i heard it on movies which came translated from mexico.

updated Jun 3, 2013posted by AnormalApreciamos mucho su ayuda, Anormal. - katydew, Jun 3, 2013Oh thanks, so you're saying that Oye can be used in both ways that I said, right? - szhang, Jun 3, 2013Yah, I think so. - give-me-a-kiss, Jun 3, 2013It's an exclamation to call attention. - Anormal, Jun 3, 20131vote

Oye is nothing more than an attention getter.

Oye, wey, como estás? -- Hey dude what's up?

Oye, me prestas tu pluma? -- Hey, can you loan me your pen?

Oye, dejame hablarte -- Hey, let me talk to you.

updated Jun 3, 2013posted by rodneypOh, so it's both of what I said? All the heys that get someone's attention? - szhang, Jun 3, 20131vote

I have found an answer to your question, szhang. Oye is the hey as in What are you doing? Your second guess.

updated Jun 3, 2013posted by give-me-a-kiss0votes

I've finally found that Spanish song that I love but always hear when I'm out in Spain. Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!

updated Jun 3, 2013posted by David_93That's great, David. But did I help you? If so, how? - szhang, Jun 3, 2013🚀 Remove adsSpanishDictionary.com is the world's most popular Spanish-English dictionary, translation, and learning website.FEATURESTranslationConjugationVocabularyLearn SpanishGrammarWord of the DayABOUTAbout UsPrivacyTermsSite MapHelpContact UsSOCIAL NETWORKSFacebookXXInstagramAPPSAppleiOSAndroidAndroid IXL learning logo