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hablar means to speak — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: July 13, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

hablar

verb • /[ah-BLAR]/

to speak

Example:

¿Puedes hablar más despacio, por favor?

Can you speak more slowly, please?

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🧠 What does hablar mean?

Hablar is a common Spanish verb meaning 'to speak' or 'to talk.' It's used to describe the act of communicating verbally with someone, discussing a topic, or giving a speech. You'll use this verb constantly when speaking Spanish!

📚 Extra examples

  • Me gusta hablar con mis amigos.
    I like to talk with my friends.
  • Ella habla español con fluidez.
    She speaks Spanish fluently.
  • Vamos a hablar de la película.
    We are going to talk about the movie.
  • Él habló durante una hora.
    He spoke for an hour.
  • No me gusta hablar en público.
    I don't like to speak in public.

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to speak' in Spanish?
The most common way to say 'to speak' in Spanish is 'hablar.'
How do you pronounce 'hablar' in Spanish?
Hablar is pronounced 'ah-BLAR,' with the stress on the second syllable.
How do you use 'hablar' in a sentence?
You can use 'hablar' followed by 'con' (with) to indicate who you're speaking with, 'de' (about) to indicate the topic, or 'en' (in) to indicate the language. For example: 'Hablo con mi madre,' 'Hablamos del trabajo,' or 'Hablan en español.'
What is the English translation of 'hablar'?
The English translation of 'hablar' is 'to speak' or 'to talk.'
Does 'hablar' change for gender or number?
Yes, 'hablar' conjugates depending on the subject pronoun (yo, tú, él/ella/usted, nosotros, vosotros, ellos/ellas/ustedes). See the conjugation section for more details.
Is 'hablar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'hablar' is an extremely common verb used daily in Spanish conversations.
Does 'hablar' have slang or double meanings?
While 'hablar' itself doesn't have many slang meanings, there are many slang words and expressions related to speaking in Spanish. For example, 'charlar' (to chat), 'platicar' (to chat, more common in Mexico), and many more depending on the region.
Is 'hablar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The general use of 'hablar' is the same across Spain and Latin America. However, the slang terms related to speaking might vary regionally.
How do you conjugate 'hablar' in Spanish?
Here's the present tense conjugation: Yo hablo Tú hablas Él/Ella/Usted habla Nosotros/Nosotras hablamos Vosotros/Vosotras habláis Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablan

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "hablar"

Synonyms: charlar, platicar, conversar, decir
Opposites: callar, silenciar

💡 Did You Know?

The word 'hablar' comes from the Latin word 'parabolare,' which means 'to speak' or 'to discourse.'

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