hablan
“hablan” means “they speak” in Spanish (present action).
they speak, they talkAlso: you all speak
📝 In Action
Ellos hablan español en casa.
A1They speak Spanish at home.
¿De qué hablan los vecinos?
A2What are the neighbors talking about?
Ustedes hablan muy rápido. Por favor, más despacio.
A2You all speak very fast. Please, slower.
Dicen que hablan de un nuevo proyecto.
B1They say they are talking about a new project.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "hablan" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: hablan
Question 1 of 2
Which subject pronoun correctly pairs with 'hablan'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Latin verb *fabulari*, which meant 'to converse' or 'to narrate stories.' It replaced the older, more formal Latin word for 'to speak,' *loqui* (which gives us words like 'elocution').
First recorded: Around the 10th or 11th century in Old Spanish texts.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'hablan' and 'hablen'?
'Hablan' is the regular form for stating a fact: 'They speak.' ('Ellos hablan'). 'Hablen' is a special form (called the subjunctive or imperative) used for wishes, doubts, or giving commands to a group: 'Quiero que hablen' (I want them to speak) or '¡Hablen ahora!' (Speak now!).
Do I need to include 'ellos' or 'ellas' when using 'hablan'?
No, usually not! The '-an' ending clearly tells native speakers that the subject is 'they' or 'you all.' You only need to include the pronoun if you want to emphasize who is speaking or if the subject is unclear from the context.