Verbo (Verb)
/oxeˈaɾ/
The verb "ojear" refers to the act of looking at something briefly or casually, usually to get a quick impression or understanding of it. It can involve quickly flipping through pages of a book or magazine, or glancing at something without deep engagement. The word is fairly common in everyday spoken and written Spanish, typically used in casual conversation and descriptive writing.
Voy a ojear el periódico antes de salir.
I am going to glance at the newspaper before leaving.
Ella ojeó el libro para ver si le interesaba.
She skimmed through the book to see if she was interested.
No te preocupes, solo voy a ojear la tienda.
Don’t worry, I’m just going to take a quick look at the store.
While "ojear" itself may not form many idiomatic expressions, it relates to a variety of contexts that convey quick observations or impressions.
Ojear hacia atrás nunca ayuda a avanzar.
Glancing back never helps to move forward.
A veces es mejor ojeár por encima de las cosas antes de tomar una decisión.
Sometimes it’s better to skim over things before making a decision.
El crítico ojeó la película y publicó su reseña rápidamente.
The critic glanced at the movie and quickly published his review.
Voy a ojear los correos antes de cerrar la computadora.
I will glance at the emails before shutting down the computer.
"Ojear" is derived from the Spanish noun "ojo," meaning "eye." The prefix "o-" suggests relating to the eye, and the verb form suggests an action associated with eyes—namely, looking or glancing.
Synonyms: - Mirar (to look) - Examinar (to examine) - Revisar (to review)
Antonyms: - Ignorar (to ignore) - Desatender (to neglect) - Observar detenidamente (to observe carefully)
This comprehensive overview of "ojear" highlights its function in the Spanish language, suitable contexts for its use, and its broader implications in both casual and idiomatic expressions.