habla más alto
/abla mas alto/from spelling rules
To speak louder in Spanish, you say habla más alto.
This phrase is used to request that someone increase the volume of their voice so they can be heard.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the imperative habla (speak), the comparative más (more) and the adverb alto (high/loudly), literally meaning "speak more high".
Which one should you use?
While habla más alto (more high) is a common way to express this, you may also encounter habla más fuerte (more strong) to mean the same thing in many Spanish-speaking regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address more than one person, change the verb to the plural imperative hablen más alto. To be polite or formal with a single person, use the form hable más alto instead of habla.
Did you know?
- The verb habla is actually a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'fable', both tracing back to the Latin 'fābula' which refers to a discourse or story.
Examples in context
- ¡Habla más alto, que tu abuelo ya no oye tan bien!Speak louder that your grandpa does not hear that well already.This sentence uses habla más alto to explain why someone needs to speak up due to hearing difficulties.Tatoeba #2689220 by Shishir, translation #3299606 by gianich73
- Por favor habla más alto para que todo el mundo pueda oírte.Please speak louder so everybody can hear you.This sentence uses habla más alto to request more volume so everyone can hear.Tatoeba #1626795 by teskmon, translation #1497594 by CK
- Habla más alto, por favor.Speak louder, please.This sentence uses habla más alto as a polite request to speak up.Tatoeba #855921 by opor, translation #30398 by CK
- Hábleme más alto, por favorSpeak louder to me, please
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are in a busy cafe.
- LucíaNo te oigo con este ruido.I can't hear you with this noise.
- Javier¿Quieres que repita algo?Do you want me to repeat something?
- LucíaSí, habla más alto, por favor.Yes, speak louder, please.
- JavierEstá bien, lo intentaré.Alright, I will try.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alto, habla, más, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
