To Watch Look at in Spanish Mirar or Buscar | Choose Mirar

Use mirar when your eyes are on something, and use buscar when you’re trying to find it.

If you’ve ever paused mid-sentence and thought, “Wait… is this mirar or buscar?” you’re not alone. English packs a lot into “look,” “watch,” and “search.” Spanish splits that job across a few verbs, and the split is clean once you spot the idea behind each one.

Here’s the anchor: mirar is about directing your eyes. buscar is about trying to locate something. One is “I’m looking at it.” The other is “I’m looking for it.” Get that right, and your Spanish starts sounding sharp fast.

Mirar Vs Buscar For Watching And Looking

Think of these verbs as two different moves your brain makes.

Mirar Means Your Eyes Go Toward A Target

Mirar is the act of directing your gaze. It can be quick (“Look!”) or steady (“Watch this”). It often connects to attention, since you’re choosing where your eyes land. The RAE dictionary entry for “mirar” starts with exactly that idea: directing your sight to an object.

Common English matches for mirar:

• Look at: “Mira esa casa.”
• Watch: “Mira la tele.” (In many places, this is normal.)
• Check: “Mira el correo.” (Look/check your email.)

Buscar Means You Don’t Have It Yet

Buscar is what you do when the thing is missing, unknown, or not in your hand. You might scan a room, scroll a menu, or hunt for the right word. The RAE dictionary entry for “buscar” frames it as doing something to find someone or something, and that’s the whole point.

Common English matches for buscar:

• Look for: “Busco mis llaves.”
• Search: “Busca el archivo en tu carpeta.”
• Pick up: “Voy a buscar a mi hermano.” (Go get/pick up.)

The Fast Test That Stops Mix-Ups

Ask one question: “Am I trying to find it?”

• If yes, go with buscar.
• If no, and you’re directing your eyes to something that’s already there, go with mirar.

This is why “I’m looking at my phone” is Miro mi teléfono, but “I’m looking for my phone” is Busco mi teléfono. Same object, different situation.

Where “Watch” Fits And Why Ver Shows Up

English “watch” can mean “keep your eyes on something over time.” Spanish can do that with mirar, and it can also do it with ver, depending on the context and region.

Ver Is Seeing, Often As A Result

Ver is “to see.” It can be the raw act of visual perception, and it can also mean “to understand” in some contexts. The RAE dictionary entry for “ver” leads with perceiving with the eyes through light.

That difference matters because mirar is more about the action you choose (“look/watch”), while ver can feel more like the result (“see”). Real speech bends these lines, yet the core still helps you pick the right verb in new situations.

Mirar La Tele Vs Ver La Tele

Both appear in daily Spanish, and which one you hear more depends on where you are and the style of the speaker. If you want a safe default for “watch TV,” ver la tele is widely accepted across regions. If you hear mirar la tele, don’t panic; it’s normal in many places too.

Here’s a clean way to choose:

• If you mean “I watched a show/movie,” ver often feels natural: Vi una película anoche.
• If you mean “Look at the screen / watch this moment,” mirar is strong: Mira esto.

If you want a quick language note that matches what learners notice in real life, Fundéu explains the “ver” vs “mirar” contrast as perception vs a chosen act in its Q&A on ver/mirar and oír/escuchar.

To Watch Look at in Spanish Mirar or Buscar

Let’s map the keyword idea to real sentences. When English says “look” or “watch,” Spanish asks: are you aiming your eyes, or trying to locate something?

When English Means “Look At”

Use mirar when you’re pointing your attention at something that’s already present.

• “Look at that!” → ¡Mira eso!
• “Look at me.” → Mírame.
• “Look at the map.” → Mira el mapa.

When English Means “Look For”

Use buscar when the goal is to find, locate, or track down.

• “I’m looking for a bathroom.” → Busco un baño.
• “Look for my bag.” → Busca mi bolso.
• “I’m searching for the right word.” → Busco la palabra correcta.

When English Means “Watch”

For “watch,” Spanish often uses ver for viewing content, and mirar for directing attention in the moment.

• “We watched a series.” → Vimos una serie.
• “Watch this.” → Mira esto.
• “Watch the kids.” → Mira a los niños. (Keep an eye on.)

Notice how that last one works: you’re not “finding” the kids, you’re keeping your eyes on them. That’s mirar, not buscar.

Common Situations And The Verb That Fits

Below is a practical set of “English thought → Spanish verb” matches. Use it when your brain freezes and you want a clean pick.

Situation In Plain English	Best Verb	Spanish Pattern That Works
You direct your eyes to something	Mirar	Mira + (object) / Mira + a + (person)
You try to locate a lost item	Buscar	Busco + (thing) / Busca + (thing)
You watch a movie or series	Ver	Ver + (película/serie) / Vimos + (algo)
You watch what happens right now	Mirar	Mira esto / Mira lo que pasa
You search online	Buscar	Busca en Google / Busqué la info
You check a message, email, or detail	Mirar	Mira el mensaje / Mira bien
You go pick someone up	Buscar	Voy a buscar a (persona)
You stare at something for a while	Mirar	Miró la pared un rato
You watch out / keep an eye on something	Mirar	Mira por dónde vas / Mira eso
You look for a job or opportunity	Buscar	Busco trabajo / Busca una salida

Small Grammar Moves That Change The Meaning

Spanish gives you tiny switches—like the letter a or a reflexive form—that can change what the verb feels like. These are the spots where learners often trip.

Mirar A Someone

When the direct object is a person (or a pet treated like a person), Spanish often uses the personal a.

• Miro a mi mamá. (I look at my mom.)
• Mira al perro. (Look at the dog.)

With things, you usually skip that a:

• Mira la puerta. (Look at the door.)
• Miro el reloj. (I’m looking at the clock.)

Buscar A Someone

When you’re trying to find a person, that same personal a shows up:

• Busco a Carlos. (I’m looking for Carlos.)
• Busca a la doctora. (Look for the doctor.)

Buscarse Can Mean “To Get Yourself Into It”

In real speech, buscar has a reflexive form (buscarse) that can mean someone brought a problem on themselves. You’ll hear it in phrases like Te lo buscaste. That’s not “you searched for it” in a literal sense; it’s a fixed way of blaming someone for what happened.

How To Sound Natural In Daily Spanish

Picking the correct verb is step one. Step two is using the patterns native speakers lean on all the time.

Go-To Phrases With Mirar

• Mira… (A casual “Look,” to introduce a point.)
• Mira esto. (Watch this / look at this.)
• Mírame. (Look at me.)
• Vamos a mirar. (Let’s take a look.)

Note the accent in mírame. That accent keeps the stress right when you attach the pronoun.

Go-To Phrases With Buscar

• Estoy buscando… (I’m looking for…)
• Busca en… (Search in/on…)
• Voy a buscar a… (I’m going to pick up…)
• No lo busques. (Don’t look for it.)

A Tiny Tip For “Search” Buttons

On apps and websites in Spanish, the button label is often Buscar. That lines up with the meaning: you’re trying to locate content that isn’t on screen yet.

Mini Practice That Locks It In

Try these in your head, then check the answer. Don’t rush. Let the “find it vs look at it” test do the work.

Pick The Verb

1. “I’m looking for my passport.” → Busco mi pasaporte.
2. “Look at the sign.” → Mira el letrero.
3. “We watched the match.” → Vimos el partido.
4. “Watch the road.” → Mira la carretera.
5. “She’s searching for a new apartment.” → Busca un apartamento nuevo.

If you got stuck on #3, that’s normal. When English says “watch” for content or events as a completed viewing, ver often lands better than mirar.

Quick Conjugation Cheats For The Moments You Need Them

You don’t need every tense to use these verbs well. A few high-traffic forms carry most daily talk. Here’s a compact cheat table you can keep in mind when speaking.

Verb	Core Sense	Handy Forms
Mirar	Direct your eyes; watch in the moment	miro, mira, miré
Buscar	Try to find; search; go pick up	busco, busca, busqué
Ver	See; watch viewed content	veo, ve, vi

A Simple Wrap-Up You Can Rely On

If your goal is to direct attention with your eyes, reach for mirar. If your goal is to locate something you don’t have yet, reach for buscar. When you mean “watch” as in viewing a show, film, or match as content, ver often fits better.

That’s the whole system. It’s not fancy. It’s just clear. Once it clicks, you’ll stop second-guessing and start speaking with ease.