How to Say "don't speak" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “don't speak” is “hables” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Espero que hables con tu madre sobre esto.
I hope you speak with your mother about this.
No hables tan alto, por favor; la bebé está durmiendo.
Don't speak so loudly, please; the baby is sleeping.
Dudo que hables tres idiomas con fluidez.
I doubt that you speak three languages fluently.
The Subjunctive Use
You use 'hables' (the subjunctive form) when the first part of the sentence expresses a wish, a doubt, or a feeling about you speaking. The structure is usually 'Main verb + que + hables'.
Negative Commands
This is the special form Spanish uses for telling a friend (tú) not to do something. If you want to say 'Don't speak,' you must use 'No hables'.
Mixing Commands
Mistake: “Using 'No hablas' when giving a negative command.”
Correction: The correct negative command is always 'No hables.' The form 'hablas' is only for stating a fact: 'Tú no hablas inglés' (You don't speak English).
Related Translations
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