Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hablar | /aˈblaɾ/ |
| conversar | /kombeɾˈsaɾ/ |
| paular | /paulaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| fablar | /faˈblaɾ/ |
| fabular | /fabuˈlaɾ/ |
| chamullar | /t͡ʃamuˈʝaɾ/ |
The verb hablar is a common way to express 'talk' in Spanish. Other ways to express communication include the phrase Tener una conversación for 'to have a conversation', Tener un diálogo for 'to have a dialogue' and Mantener una plática to mean 'to maintain a conversation'. You can also specify the manner of talking, such as Hablar amigablemente to 'talk friendly', Charlar animadamente to 'chat animatedly' or Conversar respetuosamente to 'converse respectfully'. Related to talking are the noun charla, which means a lecture and the noun güirigüiri, which refers to empty boasting, promises or claims.
Which one should you use?
While hablar is the standard, most common verb for 'to talk' or 'to speak', conversar implies a more formal or structured exchange of ideas compared to the general act of talking.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Conversar is a formal term used for having a conversation or discussing specific topics. Conversely, charlar is an informal and friendly term used in everyday speech. The noun charla is also often used to refer to an informal talk or a chat.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular present indicative of hablar is hablo (I talk/I speak). The second-person singular preterite (past tense) of hablar is hablaste (you talked/spoke).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of hablar is /aˈblaɾ/.
Did you know?
- The verb chamullar is a highly informal, slang way to talk, often implying a specific kind of flattering or smooth-talking to deceive someone.
- The word hablar evolved from the Old Spanish fablar. This change occurred because the 'f' sound at the start of words shifted to a silent 'h' over time.
- While hablar is the standard way to say 'to speak', the verb platicar is extremely common in Mexico for 'to chat' but is much less frequent in Spain.
Examples in context
- Tom va a hablar.Tom will talk.Tatoeba #4524940 by cueyayotl, translation #2215735 by CK
- No le gusta hablar.He doesn't like to talk.Tatoeba #9287400 by Javea, translation #9806495 by DJ_Saidez
- Yo hablaré sobre ti.I'll talk about you.Tatoeba #2824714 by cueyayotl, translation #2796603 by Alkrasnov
- Debemos hablar sobre los detalles del proyecto.We need to talk about the project's details.
- Me gustaría hablar con el gerente.I would like to talk to the manager.
- Necesitamos conversar acerca del plan de marketing.We need to talk about the marketing plan.
- Voy a conversar con mis colegas acerca del proyecto.I'm going to talk to my colleagues about the project.
- Es necesario dialogar sobre este tema tan importante.It is necessary to talk about this important topic.
- Dialoguemos para encontrar una solución viable.Let's talk to find a viable solution.
- Principalmente, nos juntamos para charlar y pasar un buen rato.Mainly, we meet to chat and have a good time.
- Fui a su casa para platicar un poco.I went to his/her house to talk a bit.
- Vamos a platicar sobre cómo fue tu día.Let's talk about how your day went.
- 964 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are at a cafe.
- María¿Podemos hablar un momento, Alejandro?Can we talk for a moment, Alejandro?
- AlejandroSí, María, dime qué pasa.Yes, María, tell me what is happening.
- MaríaEs para hablar sobre el viaje.It is to talk about the trip.
- AlejandroEstá bien, hablemos ahora.Okay, let's talk now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “talk” translations and entries hablar, conversar, fablar, fabular, chamullar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries conversar, hablar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
