¿sabes inglés?
/ˈsabes inˈɡles/word by word
The English phrase "do you know english?" is translated into Spanish as ¿sabes inglés?
This phrase is used to ask if someone has the ability to speak or understand the English language.
Which one should you use?
While ¿sabes inglés? specifically asks if you have the knowledge of the language, ¿hablas inglés? is a more common way to ask if someone can actually communicate in English.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, the phrase ¿Hablas inglés? is used to ask if someone knows English.
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking to a stranger, an elder or someone in a professional setting, use the third-person singular form ¿sabe inglés? instead of sabes. If you are addressing a group of people, use ¿saben inglés? to ask "do you (plural) know english?"
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsabes inˈɡles/
What mistakes should you avoid?
In Spanish, the names of languages like inglés are not capitalized unless they start a sentence.
Did you know?
- The word inglés actually entered the Spanish language through Old French, rather than being borrowed directly from English.
- In some Latin American countries, responding un poquito to ¿sabes inglés? is a common social cue that suggests the speaker is comfortable with basic phrases but may struggle with a full conversation.
- In Spanish, the word sabes comes from the verb saber, which specifically refers to knowledge acquired through study or experience. This is why it is used for language ability rather than the verb conocer, which is used for knowing people or places.
Examples in context
- ¿Sabes inglés?Do you know English?
- Perdón, ¿sabes inglés?Excuse me, do you know English?
Example conversation
Mateo is asking María for help with a document.
- MateoHola María, ¿sabes inglés?Hi María, do you know English?
- MaríaSí, hablo un poco.Yes, I speak a little.
- Mateo¿Puedes leer este correo?Can you read this email?
- MaríaClaro, yo te ayudo.Sure, I will help you.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (sabes, inglés) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries inglés, CC BY-SA 4.0.
