Spanish Phrase
Ella oyó un chisme.
Meaning
She heard a piece of gossip. The verb oyó places the action in the simple past, indicating that the hearing happened at a specific moment. "Chisme" refers to informal, often unverified information that spreads socially.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to tell someone that a woman heard a rumor or gossip, especially in casual or storytelling contexts. It’s perfect for describing a momentary event rather than a habitual action.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ellaoyóunchisme
Ella (subject pronoun)
Third‑person singular feminine pronoun used as the explicit subject of the verb.
oyó (preterite of oír)
Preterite tense, third‑person singular of the verb oír ‘to hear’; note the accent on the ó.
un (indefinite article)
Masculine singular indefinite article that matches the noun chisme.
chisme (noun)
Masculine singular noun meaning ‘gossip’ or ‘rumor’; commonly used in informal conversation.
🗨In Conversation
¿Escuchaste el último chisme del trabajo?
Did you hear the latest gossip at work?
Sí, ella oyó un chisme y ahora todos están hablando de ello.
Yes, she heard a gossip and now everyone is talking about it.
✕Common Mistakes
Ella oyo un chisme.
The accent on ó is essential; without it you get "oyo", which is not a verb form.
Ella oyó una chisme.
Because chisme is masculine, the correct article is "un", not "una".
Ella oía un chisme.
Learners often confuse the preterite "oyó" with the imperfect "oía"; the former denotes a completed event, the latter a habitual action.
↔Alternatives
Ella escuchó un rumor.
She listened to a rumor.
Ella se enteró de un chisme.
She found out about a gossip.
Ella captó un chisme.
She caught a gossip.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking cultures, chisme is a staple of social interaction, especially in family gatherings or workplace breaks. It’s informal and can be playful, but be careful not to spread harmful rumors. In formal settings, replace chisme with rumor (rumor) or información (information).