hablas
/ablas/from spelling rules
In Spanish, hablas means "you speak".
Which one should you use?
While hablas is used for friends or peers, the form habla is used when addressing someone formally (usted). For groups, the choice depends on the region: in Spain, vosotros/vosotras habláis is an informal second-person plural form used mainly in Spain, while in Latin America, ustedes hablan is the preferred form for both formal and informal contexts when addressing a group.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Vosotros/Vosotras habláis is an informal second-person plural form used mainly in Spain. In Latin America, ustedes hablan is the preferred form for both formal and informal contexts when addressing a group.
How do you pronounce it?
/ablas/
Did you know?
- The verb hablar is used in the phrase hablar por los codos, which literally means 'to speak through one's elbows'. It describes someone who talks incessantly.
- The verb hablar shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'babble', as both originate from an ancient sound-imitation of human speech.
- In many parts of Latin America, speakers use voseo, replacing hablas with hablás. This change in stress shifts the emphasis to the final syllable.
Examples in context
- Hablas como tu mamá.You speak like your mum.This sentence uses hablas to compare someone's speech to their mother.Tatoeba #6313870 by baudelaire, translation #6321949 by robbieheslop
- Hablas como un idiota.You speak like an idiot.This sentence uses hablas to describe someone speaking like an idiot.Tatoeba #4967493 by cueyayotl, translation #12896839 by araneo
- Sé que hablas francés.I know you speak French.This sentence uses hablas to express knowledge of someone speaking French.Tatoeba #5755839 by arh, translation #2376600 by CK
- Usted habla español muy bien.You speak Spanish very well.
- ¿Usted habla inglés?Do you speak English?
- Me encanta cómo usted habla francés.I love how you speak French.
- ¿Hablas español?Do you speak Spanish?
- ¡Qué bien hablas italiano!You speak Italian so well!
- ¿Vosotros habláis inglés?Do you guys speak English?
- ¡Cuánto habláis!You guys talk so much!
- ¿Ustedes hablan portugués?Do you all speak Portuguese?
- Me encanta cómo ustedes hablan francés.I love how you all speak French.
- 137 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are discussing a language course.
- Sofía¿Hablas inglés muy bien?Do you speak English very well?
- MateoSí, pero todavía aprendo español.Yes, but I am still learning Spanish.
- SofíaEres muy inteligente, Mateo.You are very intelligent, Mateo.
- MateoGracias, Sofía.Thank you, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
