01
hören
to hear
To perceive noises, sounds, or voices with the ears.
example
Hörst du das laute Geräusch auch?
Do you hear that loud noise too?
hören
to hear / to listen
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Fixed preposition 'auf'
In the meaning 'gehorchen' (to obey) or 'einen Rat befolgen' (to follow advice), 'hören' (to listen) is always used with the preposition 'auf' and the accusative. The person or advice one follows is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Kinder sollten auf ihre Eltern hören.
Children should listen to their parents.
Fixed preposition 'von'
When you want to express that you receive news about someone or something, you use the preposition 'von' with the dative. This is about receiving information.
EXAMPLE
Hast du schon von den neuen Plänen gehört?
Have you heard about the new plans yet?
Infinitive without 'zu'
Similar to modal verbs, 'hören' (to hear) can be used with a second verb in the infinitive without 'zu'. This construction describes that one perceives an action acoustically.
EXAMPLE
Ich höre die Nachbarn streiten.
I hear the neighbors arguing.
Academic context
In a university context, 'hören' (to attend) has a special meaning. 'Eine Vorlesung hören' means that, as a student, one attends this course or lecture.
EXAMPLE
Welche Vorlesungen hörst du in diesem Semester?
Which lectures are you attending this semester?
Context clue: active vs. passive
'Hören' can be both a passive perception ('Ich höre ein Geräusch' — I hear a noise) and an active, conscious action ('Ich höre gerade Musik' — I am listening to music right now). Whether the listening happens intentionally or not is usually clear from context.
EXAMPLE
Plötzlich hörte ich einen lauten Knall vor dem Haus.
Suddenly, I heard a loud bang in front of the house.
Compare with
hören vs folgen
to follow
'folgen' and 'hören auf' can both mean that you pay attention to advice or an instruction and act accordingly. 'folgen' sounds a little more matter-of-fact and works well with rules, orders, instructions, or advice. For example, you say 'einer Regel folgen' (to follow a rule) or 'dem Rat folgen' (to follow the advice). 'hören auf' is more everyday and is often used with people: you listen to your parents, the doctor, or a friend. Learners may confuse the words because both can mean 'to obey' or 'to act according to something'. The construction is important: 'folgen' is usually used with the dative, while 'hören auf' uses 'auf' plus the accusative.
hören
Karim hört auf seine Ärztin und nimmt die Tabletten regelmäßig.
Karim listens to his doctor and takes the tablets regularly.
folgen
Im Labor müssen alle den Sicherheitsregeln genau folgen.
In the lab, everyone must follow the safety rules exactly.
In real life
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