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Two stylized characters actively engaged in conversation, illustrating the ongoing action of talking.

hablando

/ah-BLAHN-doh/

Verb Form (the '-ing' version)A1
speaking?describing an ongoing action,talking?describing an ongoing action
Also:by speaking?describing the method used to do something

Quick Reference

infinitivehablar
gerundhablando
past Participlehablado

📝 In Action

Mi hermana está hablando por teléfono.

A1

My sister is talking on the phone.

Pasamos la noche hablando de nuestros planes.

A2

We spent the night talking about our plans.

Puedes resolver muchos problemas simplemente hablando.

B1

You can solve many problems simply by talking.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • conversando (conversing)
  • platicando (chatting (common in Latin America))

Antonyms

  • callando (being quiet)

Common Collocations

  • estar hablando – to be talking
  • seguir hablando – to keep talking
  • ir hablando – to be talking (while going somewhere)

Idioms & Expressions

  • Hablando del rey de Roma... – Speak of the devil...

💡 Grammar Points

Making the '-ing' Form in Spanish

To say an action is happening right now, you almost always use a form of estar (to be) with a verb ending in -ando or -iendo. Hablando is the '-ing' form of hablar (to talk).

More Than Just 'Right Now'

Hablando can also mean 'by speaking' or 'while speaking'. For example, 'Aprendes mucho hablando con la gente' means 'You learn a lot by speaking with people'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using '-ando' for Everything

Mistake: "Quiero hablando español."

Correction: After verbs like 'quiero' (I want) or 'necesito' (I need), use the full verb form: 'Quiero hablar español'. Save `hablando` for actions currently in progress.

Forgetting 'Estar'

Mistake: "Yo hablando con mi amigo."

Correction: In Spanish, you need the helper verb 'estar' to say an action is in progress. Always say 'Yo estoy hablando con mi amigo' (I am talking with my friend).

⭐ Usage Tips

To Describe a Scene

You can use hablando to set a scene in a story. For example: 'Vi a dos personas hablando en la esquina.' (I saw two people talking on the corner.)

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: hablando

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'hablando'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

hablar(to speak, to talk) - verb
el habla(speech, way of speaking) - noun
hablador/a(talkative) - adjective
hablante(speaker (of a language)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'hablando' by itself, without 'estoy' or 'está'?

Yes, but it changes the meaning. By itself, it often means 'by talking' or 'while talking'. For example, 'Se solucionó el problema hablando' means 'The problem was solved by talking'. To say someone *is talking*, you need to include 'estar'.

Is 'hablando' the same as 'hablar'?

No, they are different forms of the same verb. 'Hablar' is the basic, unconjugated form, meaning 'to speak'. 'Hablando' is the '-ing' form, meaning 'speaking', and it's used for actions in progress.