parli spagnolo?
The English phrase "do you speak spanish?" is translated into Italian as parli spagnolo?
This phrase is a question used to ask if someone has the ability to communicate in the Spanish language. Related terms include Spagnolo (Spanish), Italiano (Italian) and the phrase Un po' (a little).
Which one should you use?
parli spagnolo? is used for friends, family or people your own age, whereas parla spagnolo? is used for formal situations to address a stranger or superior. If you are asking a group of people if they speak Spanish, use parlate spagnolo?
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes from 'parli' to 'parla' when using the formal 'Lei' form to address a stranger or superior. To answer 'I speak Spanish', change the verb ending to parlo spagnolo.
Did you know?
- While you might expect the question to use a word related to 'Spain', the word spagnolo shares a common ancestor with the French word épagneul, which actually refers to a type of spaniel dog.
- If you use the formal parla spagnolo? to a stranger, you are implicitly using the formal 'Lei' pronoun, which is actually the feminine version of 'He', but used as a respectful universal standard in Italian.
- Because Italian and Spanish are so similar, an Italian speaker might respond to parli spagnolo? by answering in Spanish, even if they only speak a little.
Examples in context
- Lei parla spagnolo?Do you (formal) speak Spanish?
- Scusa, parli spagnolo?Excuse me, do you (informal) speak Spanish?
- Tu parli spagnolo?Do you (informal) speak Spanish?
- Sai parlare spagnolo?Can you (informal) speak Spanish?
- Perché, parli spagnolo?Why, do you speak Spanish?
Example conversation
Sofia is asking a new colleague about his language skills.
- SofiaLorenzo, parli spagnolo?Lorenzo, do you speak Spanish?
- LorenzoSì, lo parlo un po'.Yes, I speak it a little.
- SofiaOttimo, perché devo tradurre un documento.Great, because I have to translate a document.
- LorenzoNessun problema, posso aiutare io.No problem, I can help.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries spagnolo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
