What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 英語 (English), the particle を which indicates the direct object of the sentence and 話せます, which means 'can speak'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you want to ask 'Can you speak English?' formally, you can use 英語を話せますか by adding the question particle か. For an informal way to ask the same question, you can use 英語ができる？
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 話せます is the potential form of 話します (to speak), which expresses the ability to do something. You can turn the statement into a question by adding the particle か to the end. While the default form uses the particle を to mark the object, it is also common and often sounds more natural to use the particle が when expressing this capability, as in 英語が話せます.
How do you pronounce it?
eigo o hanasemasu
Did you know?
- If you want to ask if someone is 'fluent' rather than just able to speak English, you might hear the word ペラペラ (perapera) used. This is an onomatopoeia that mimics the sound of smooth, rapid talking.
- In many Japanese contexts, using the word for 'you' (anata) to ask if someone speaks English can actually sound distance or even rude. It is often more polite to use the person's name followed by 'san' instead of a pronoun.
- Japanese speakers often avoid asking 英語を話せますか directly to foreigners. Instead, they may use 英語で大丈夫ですか which asks 'Is English okay?', to be more polite and less demanding.
Examples in context
- 英語を話せますか。Can you speak English?This example shows how to ask 'Can you speak English?' using the form 英語を話せます.Tatoeba #189023 by bunbuku, translation #26170 by CK
- すみません、英語を話せますか？Excuse me, can you speak English?
- はい、少し話せます。Yes, I can speak a little.
- おい、英語ができる？Hey, can you speak English?
- 彼は英語を話せます。Kare wa eigo o hanasemasu.He speaks English.
- 彼女は英語を話せます。Kanojo wa eigo o hanasemasu.She speaks English.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a foreign visitor at school.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さんは英語を話せますか。Himari-san wa eigo o hanasemasu ka.Himari, do you speak English?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、少しだけ英語を話せます。Hai, sukoshi dake eigo o hanasemasu.Yes, I can speak English a little.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当ですか！助かります。Hontou desu ka! Tasukarimasu.Really! That helps a lot.
- 陽葵 Himari大丈夫です。お手伝いしますね。Daijoubu desu. Otetsudai shimasu ne.No problem. I will help you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
