A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing a person with their mouth open, actively speaking. Three curved lines rise from their mouth, clearly representing sound waves.

hable

AH-bleh

speak (I, he, she, formal you) - Subjunctive form?Used to express wishes, emotions, or uncertainty,Speak! (formal command)?The polite way to tell someone (usted) to speak

Also:talk (I, he, she, formal you) - Subjunctive form?When the speaker expresses necessity or influence

Quick Reference

infinitivehablar

gerundhablando

past Participlehablado

📝 In Action

Quiero que me **hable** con la verdad.

I want you (formal) to speak the truth to me.

Espero que **hable** inglés en la reunión.

I hope he/she speaks English in the meeting.

¡**Hable** más alto, por favor! No lo escucho.

Speak louder, please! I can't hear you.

No creo que yo **hable** lo suficiente.

I don't think I speak enough.

Word Connections

Synonyms

converse (to converse)
comunicar (to communicate)

Antonyms

callar (to be silent)

Common Collocations

que yo hable – that I speak
hable despacio – speak slowly (formal command)

💡 Grammar Points

The Subjunctive Use

The form 'hable' (I/he/she/formal you) is used in the Present Subjunctive. This special mood is triggered by expressions of emotion, desire, doubt, or necessity (e.g., 'Es importante que...').

Formal Commands

'Hable' is the polite, formal command form for 'usted' (you). This is the correct way to respectfully tell someone, 'Speak!'

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Indicative and Subjunctive

Mistake: "Using 'Es posible que él habla español' (using the normal verb form 'habla')."

Correction: You must use the Subjunctive after expressions of possibility or doubt: 'Es posible que él **hable** español.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Easy Way to Remember

For regular -AR verbs like 'hablar', the Subjunctive endings borrow the pattern of -ER/-IR verbs. Notice how 'hable' looks like a typical -ER verb conjugation.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: hable

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'hable' correctly as a formal command?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

hablar(to speak) - infinitive verb

habla(speech / he/she/you speaks) - noun / conjugated verb

hablador(a)(talkative) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'hable' the same for 'I,' 'he,' 'she,' and 'formal you'?

Yes, when using the Present Subjunctive mood (for wishes, doubts, etc.), the 'yo' (I), 'él/ella' (he/she), and 'usted' (formal you) forms are all the same: 'hable'.

How do I know if 'hable' is a command or a statement?

Context usually tells you. If it starts with an exclamation point or follows a situation where one person is instructing another (like 'Doctor, hable más claro'), it's a command. If it follows phrases like 'Quiero que...' or 'Espero que...', it is likely the Subjunctive mood.