Inklingo

How to Say "to discuss" in Spanish

English → Spanish

hablar

ah-BLARaˈβlaɾ

verbA2general
Use 'hablar' when you want to indicate a general conversation or talking about a topic, often in a slightly more formal context than 'comentar'.
A teacher pointing to a world map on a whiteboard, explaining geography to a group of students.

Examples

Estamos hablando de la película.

We are talking about the movie.

¿De qué hablaban ustedes?

What were you talking about?

El libro habla sobre la importancia de la amistad.

The book is about the importance of friendship.

The Magic Word: 'de'

To talk 'about' something, you must use the little word 'de' (or 'sobre') after 'hablar'. You can't just say 'Hablamos la película'.

Forgetting the Preposition

Mistake: “Hablo mi viaje a España.”

Correction: Hablo de mi viaje a España. You always need 'de' or 'sobre' to connect 'hablar' to the topic you're discussing.

comentar

ko-men-TARkomenˈtaɾ

verbA2informal
Choose 'comentar' when you are talking about a specific subject with others, often to share opinions or observations informally.
Three friends sitting around a small table with coffee mugs, engaged in a lively conversation.

Examples

Mañana vamos a comentar los resultados del examen.

Tomorrow we are going to discuss the exam results.

Él comentó que no podía venir a la fiesta.

He mentioned that he couldn't come to the party.

Mucha gente está comentando la noticia en las redes sociales.

A lot of people are commenting on the news on social media.

No 'On' Needed

Unlike English where we say 'comment ON something,' in Spanish you usually go straight to the object. For example: 'Comento el libro' (I comment on the book).

Reporting Speech

This word is great for retelling what someone else said. Instead of always using 'decir' (to say), use 'comentar' to sound more natural when reporting information.

Don't use 'sobre' too much

Mistake: “Comentar sobre la película.”

Correction: Comentar la película. While 'sobre' is sometimes used, it's more natural and direct in Spanish to omit it.

debatir

deh-bah-teerdeβaˈtiɾ

verbB1formal
Use 'debatir' specifically when the discussion involves examining different viewpoints or arguments, often in a formal or public setting.
Two people standing at podiums facing each other in a respectful discussion.

Examples

Los candidatos van a debatir sobre la economía esta noche.

The candidates are going to debate about the economy tonight.

Es bueno debatir diferentes puntos de vista en clase.

It is good to discuss different points of view in class.

Llevamos horas debatiendo la misma propuesta sin llegar a un acuerdo.

We have been debating the same proposal for hours without reaching an agreement.

Debatir vs. Discutir

While both mean 'to talk about something,' 'debatir' is usually more organized and respectful. 'Discutir' can sometimes mean a heated argument where people are angry.

Using 'debatir de'

Mistake: “Debatimos de el problema.”

Correction: Debatimos el problema (or 'sobre el problema'). Unlike some other verbs, you don't always need a little word after 'debatir' to name what you are talking about.

Choosing between 'hablar', 'comentar', and 'debatir'

Learners often confuse 'hablar' and 'comentar' because both can mean 'to talk about'. Remember that 'comentar' usually implies sharing thoughts on a specific topic, while 'hablar' is more general. 'Debatir' is distinct, reserved for situations with opposing views.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.