Expressions with "Hablar"

Quick Answer

Hablaris one of the most used verbs in Spanish. It translates as to talk and to speak. This guide will get you using this must-know verb like a pro!

Conjugating Hablar

All of the conjugations for the verb hablar are regular. Click here to review the forms of hablar in all tenses.

How to Say What Languages You Speak

One of the first phrases you'll hear when traveling to a Spanish speaking country is ¿Hablas español?That's because hablar is use to talk about what languages you speak.

Check out these examples.

examples
Hablo inglés y español. I speak English and Spanish.
¿Hablas francés? Do you speak French?

Hablar and the Impersonal Se

Impersonal se constructions are used to make general observations about what people do. Hablar is often used with the impersonal se to express what language is spoken or what language people speak.

In impersonal se constructions, verbs are always conjugated in the third person singular.

examples
¿Todavía se habla francés en Vietnam? Is French still spoken in Vietnam?
¿Sabías que en Guinea Ecuatorial se habla español? Did you know that people speak Spanish in Equatorial Guinea?

Reciprocal Use of Hablar

Reciprocal verbs are a type of pronominal verb used to talk about actions that people do to each other.
Reciprocal verbs are formed by the combination of a verb and one of the following reciprocal pronouns: nos, os, or se.
The verb hablar is often used reciprocally to express to speak to each other or to be on speaking terms.

Take a look at these examples.

examples
Se hablan de mala manera. They speak to each other rudely.
Mi exmarido y yo no nos hablamos. My ex-husband and I are not on speaking terms.

To learn more about reciprocal verbs, click here.

Talking about How People Communicate

Hablar is often used with the preposition porto talk about how people communicate.

Take a look at the following examples.

examples
No me gusta textear. Prefiero hablar por teléfono. I don’t like texting. I prefer to talk on the phone.
Mi novio y yo hablamos por WhatsApp cada día. My boyfriend and I talk on WhatsApp every day.

To Talk About

There are three prepositions that are used with hablar to say to talk about: de, sobre, and acerca de.

Let’s put these into practice!

examples
No hablemos de tu jefe otra vez. Let’s not talk about your boss again.
Jorge estaba harto de hablar sobre política todo el rato. Jorge was sick of talking about politics all the time.
Los niños hablaban acerca de su primer día de escuela. The children were talking about their first day of school.

To Talk To

To talk to in Spanish can be expressed by using hablar with conor a.

Remember the following rules when using con and a.

con + mí = conmigo

con + ti = contigo

a + el = al

examples
El cliente quería hablar con el gerente. The customer wanted to talk to the manager.
Si necesitas algún consejo, habla conmigo. If you need some advice, talk to me.
Necesitas hablar a los alumnos sobre la importancia del respeto. You need to talk to the students about the importance of respect.

Helpful Phrases Using Hablar

There are many phrases with the verb hablar that you can use in conversation when you don’t understand or are having a difficult time understanding the person you are speaking to.

Some of the phrases given in the following chart are in the túform, so they are used to talk to a friend, family member the same age as you or younger, classmate, or a child. The conjugation of hablar will change if you are talking to someone formally or a group of people.

Phrase in Spanish	Meaning in English
¿Hablas inglés?	Do you speak English?
¿Hablas español?	Do you speak Spanish?
No sé hablar...	I don’t know how to speak...
Por favor, habla despacio.	Please speak slowly.
Por favor, habla más fuerte.	Please speak up.

Additional Expressions with Hablar

There are numerous other expressions that use the verb hablar.

Expression in Spanish	Meaning in English
al hablar	when talking
¿Con quién tengo el gusto de hablar?	With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?
Fue un gusto hablar contigo.	It was nice talking to you.
Fue un placer hablar contigo.	it was a pleasure talking to you.
hablando del rey de Roma	speak of the devil
hablar en cristiano	to speak plainly
¿Hablas en serio?	Are you serious?
hablar entre dientes	to mumble
hablar por los codos	to talk up a storm/to be a chatterbox
¡Ni hablar!	No way!/You must be joking!
ni hablar ni pablar	mum’s the word