What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is constructed by inverting the verb parler (to speak) and the subject pronoun vous (you), resulting in the literal meaning 'speak-you Spanish?'
Which one should you use?
You can also ask this question by using the phrase Est-ce que vous parlez espagnol ?, which places Est-ce que at the beginning of the sentence. The choice between the various forms depends on whether you are being formal or informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The formal form parlez-vous espagnol ? uses the pronoun vous to express politeness or to address a group of people. The informal version parles-tu espagnol ? uses the subject pronoun tu instead of vous.
What mistakes should you avoid?
In French, the names of languages like espagnol are not capitalized, unlike in English. Only capitalize it if you are referring to a person (e.g., un Espagnol).
Did you know?
- The word espagnol is actually a distant relative of the English word 'Spain' via the Latin 'Hispania', but its French spelling was once a much closer sibling to the word 'spaniel' through the old form épagneul.
- While espagnol is the word for the language, French uses the term castillan specifically when referring to the Castilian dialect of Spanish.
- Using the inversion parlez-vous is a hallmark of formal French, whereas in casual spoken French, people often just say vous parlez espagnol ? with a rising intonation.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, parlez-vous espagnol?Excuse me, do you speak Spanish?
- Hé, tu parles espagnol?Hey, do you speak Spanish?
Example conversation
A tourist is asking a local man for help in a street.
- ChloéExcusez-moi, parlez-vous espagnol ?Excuse me, do you speak Spanish?
- GabrielNon, je ne parle pas espagnol.No, I do not speak Spanish.
- ChloéOh, je suis désolée.Oh, I am sorry.
- GabrielCe n'est pas grave.It is no problem.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries espagnol, CC BY-SA 4.0.
