hablan
AH-blahn
Quick Reference
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Subject-Verb Agreement
'Hablan' is the 'they' or 'you all' form. Make sure the people doing the speaking match the ending: 'Ellos hablan' (They speak), not 'Ellos habla'.
The Base Verb
This word comes from the super-common '-ar' verb hablar (to speak). You only need to remember the '-an' ending for groups of people.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Singular and Plural
Mistake: "Using 'habla' when talking about a group: 'Mis padres habla rápido.'"
Correction: Use 'hablan' for groups: 'Mis padres hablan rápido.' (The '-n' is the key sign for plural subjects.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Implied Subject
Because the verb ending tells you who is speaking, you often don't need to say 'ellos' or 'ellas.' Saying just 'Hablan de política' is enough to mean 'They are talking about politics.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: hablan
Question 1 of 2
Which subject pronoun correctly pairs with 'hablan'?
📚 More Resources
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.