sé español
/se espaɲol/from spelling rules
sé español is the Spanish way to say "I know spanish".
This phrase is used to state that a person has the ability to speak or understand the Spanish language.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, you may hear Domino el español. to mean "I master Spanish" or Hablo español con fluidez. to mean "I speak Spanish fluently." In Spain, the phrase Sé hablar español correctamente. is used to mean "I know how to speak Spanish correctly."
How do you pronounce it?
/se espaɲol/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say conozco español when they mean they have the skill to speak the language. In Spanish, saber (used in sé) is the correct verb for skills and facts like languages, whereas conocer is used for being acquainted with people, places or complex topics.
Did you know?
- The word español likely originates from the Punic word for 'coast of hyraxes'.
- In the Middle Ages, people in the Iberian Peninsula often referred to themselves as 'cristianos' rather than using a word like 'españoles'. A unified national identity based on the word 'español' had not yet fully formed.
Examples in context
- Sé español, vasco y algo de inglés.I know Spanish, Basque and some English.This sentence is useful for listing multiple languages you know, including the form sé español.Tatoeba #855922 by Kokoo, translation #854679 by Leynaf
- Sí, sé hablar español.Yes, I know how to speak Spanish.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are meeting at a language exchange event.
- SofíaHola, ¿hablas español?Hello, do you speak Spanish?
- JavierHola, sí, yo sé español.Hello, yes, I know Spanish.
- Sofía¡Qué bien! Soy Sofía, mucho gusto.That's great! I'm Sofía, nice to meet you.
- JavierMucho gusto, Sofía. Yo soy Javier.Nice to meet you, Sofía. I am Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries español, sé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
