hablar
“hablar” means “to talk” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to talk, to speak
📝 In Action
¿Hablas inglés?
A1Do you speak English?
Me gusta hablar con mis amigos por teléfono.
A1I like to talk with my friends on the phone.
Por favor, habla más despacio.
A2Please, speak more slowly.
to talk about
Also: to discuss, to be about
📝 In Action
Estamos hablando de la película.
A2We are talking about the movie.
¿De qué hablaban ustedes?
A2What were you talking about?
El libro habla sobre la importancia de la amistad.
B1The book is about the importance of friendship.
to address
Also: to speak to
📝 In Action
El presidente hablará a la nación esta noche.
B1The president will address the nation tonight.
Tengo que hablarle a mi jefe sobre un asunto importante.
B1I have to speak to my boss about an important matter.
La directora les habló a los estudiantes en la asamblea.
B2The principal addressed the students at the assembly.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: hablar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'We are talking about the book'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the informal Latin word 'fabulāri', which meant 'to chat' or 'to tell stories'. It eventually replaced the more formal classical Latin word for 'to speak', which was 'loqui'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'hablar' and 'decir'?
'Hablar' is about the general act of talking or speaking. For example, 'Me gusta hablar' (I like to talk). 'Decir' is about the act of saying something specific. For example, 'Él dice hola' (He says hello).
How do I know whether to use 'hablar con', 'hablar de', or 'hablar a'?
It's simple! Use 'hablar con' for 'to talk with' someone (a conversation). Use 'hablar de' for 'to talk about' a topic. Use 'hablar a' for 'to talk to' someone, which often sounds more formal or one-sided.