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- Topic: Spanish >
- "Sí, yo hablo español."
350 Comments
as in "he/she one day wishes to achieve a level of Spanish that allows him/her to confidently say 'I speak Spanish'"
Take care with Si (NO accent) → If and Sí (WITH accent) → Yes - they are very easily mistaken, if your eyes are as old as mine!
It doesn't work that well. It can work with some stuff, but not this.
Although I'm sure you already figured this out, to anyone else with this question: hablo - I speak. habla - He/She speaks.
hablo - use when speaking about yourself habla - use when speaking to someone formally (pair with usted) or about someone (girl/boy)
I just noticed that if you tap the highlighted word you will be given their definition.
985
In English you say:
I speak
You speak
she speaks
Notice how in English we add an S to the verb when using it with the third person (3rd person = he, she, it etc.. | 2nd person = You | 1st person = I). It's called verb conjugation. This is more obvious with the verb "to be."
I am
you are
she is
we are
You are (plural you)
they are
That's the difference between Hablo and Hablas, they are different conjugations of the same verb.
I speak = yo hablo
You speak = tu hablas
she speaks = ella habla
we speak = nosotros hablamos
you speak (plural) = ustedes hablan (Americas) vosotros habláis (spain)
they speak = ellos hablan
I suggest looking up verb conjugation online, not just in Spanish, but in English as well. English conjugation is so easy we're barely aware of it, so you'll look at some English conjugation tables and have an aha moment pretty quickly. You've been doing it your whole life.
www.thoughtco.com/introduction-to-spanish-verb-conjugation-3079157 [intro. to Spanish verb conjugation}
this is my favorite site for conjugation tables, this is the page for the verb hablar: http://www.wordreference.com/conj/EsVerbs.aspx?v=hablar For now, don't look at anything but the list for "presente" in the "indicativo" section.
i wish i could see the sentence after i am told I made an error. i need to see what I've done wrong
Both "sí, yo hablo español" and "sí, hablo español" are correct. Yes, your sentence is how it would be said 99% of the time, but adding the "yo" is just as correct (just less common since the "yo" is implied by "hablo").
in fact, in this particular sentence, it is the most accurate and polite way, most cassual, "¿hablas español?--- sí, hablo español" or "sí, lo hablo"; the other way you are emphazaising in some defensive way, like "tú no hablas español--- sí, yo hablo español"
I said "Sí, hablo español." But it counted it wrong beacause i didnt use 'yo' but 'yo hablo' and 'hablo' mean the same thing.
You do not need an article when you say you speak a language. It is just "hablo inglés" or "hablo alemán".
I am new to this app, and so far i love it. I will be visiting Argentina in a few months, i am hoping this app will help me learn but i see talk of regional dialects, am i in the proper lessons to visit Argentina or should i look for a different app? Someone let me know please
Because verbs have to be conjugated to match the pronoun, "hablar" is the infinitive form of the verb (un-conjugated), and "hablo" is the "yo" conjugation.
haha i dont even speak Spanish, that was really weird to write that: "yes i do"
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No, it is "Tú hablas español" or "Usted habla español" depends on politeness and "yo hablo español".
In Spanish the verb change by its pronoun (yo, nosotros, ustedes ,ella...).
So there are a lot of verb forms (hablo, habla ,hablas, hablan...).
While English it is more simpler. You only have two forms "I SPEAK Spanish" and "He/She/It SPEAKS Spanish).
"Habla" is the wrong conjugation for "yo". Both males and females say "(yo) hablo" to say "I speak".
I just got this wrong because I wrote "Yes, I do speak English", which is technically nore correct.
"Yes, I speak beer" was one of the possible choices and I can't stop laughing!
Can anyone please help me to understand the difference between hablas and hablo and where to use them correctly?
It's frustrating because I don't know the difference between habla, hablo and hablos and there is no explanation.
- 1003
I speak = yo hablo = hablo You speak = tu hablas = hablas He/she speaks = él/ella habla = habla
In most situations you can omit the pronoun, unless you want to emphasize it for some reason or if there could be an ambiguity, such as in he case of "él" and "ella". But there is no big problem if you choose not to omit the pronoun; at most it may sound a bit redundant if it is not really necessary.
Notice that there is no "hablos"
It really sounds like the speaker says "jo" instead of yo. Is that an alternate or usual pronunciation?
Hablar : to speak Yo : hablo Tú : hablas Él/ella/usted : habla Nosotros : hablamos Ellos/ellas/ustedes : hablan
•Yo hablo inglés •Tú hablas portugués •Él habla francés •Nosotros hablamos español. •Ellos hablan inglés, portugués, francés, y español
Can anyone explain to me why the subject pronoun 'yo' is used here? in my spanish class we are taught not to use the pronoun. is this a european vs latin thing? thanks !
- 1003
While “yo” can be omitted in almost any situation because there is no possible ambiguity, Duolingo’s phrase is perfectly correct. You may want to keep the pronoun if for example you want to emphasize that it is you who speaks Spanish, not someone else, and similar cases. But the use of “yo” is not wrong. In the worst case it may sound a bit redundant if it is not really necessary, and probably you do not want to use it several times in one sentence. But in general you will decide to use it or not mostly depending on context and the flow of the conversation. As a native Spanish speaker born and living in Argentina I see that the use or not of “yo” is never an issue and I would recommend people learning Spanish to relax about it and save the energy for better causes.
When do I use which ending? I Mean when to use hablo instead of habla and so..
- 1003
There is a correspondence between the ending of any verb and the pronoun (person) such as in many other languages. In Spanish, there are usually more variants than in English.
To speak = hablar
I speak = yo hablo
you speak = tú hablas / usted habla
he/she speaks = él/ella habla
we speak = nosotros hablamos
you speak = vosotros habláis / ustedes hablan
they speak = ellos/ellas hablan
Notice that for the second person singular “you” can be translated as both “tú” (informal, familiar) or “usted” (more formal and polite in most countries). In the case of “usted” the ending is the same as for the third person.
Something similar happens with the second person plural “ustedes”. Incidentally, “ustedes” is used both as formal and informal in most Latin American countries and therefore “vosotros” is not used. “Vosotros” is used almost exclusively in Spain.
Does this platform not pay attention to gender, or have an option to specify which gender you are?
it does not pay attention to it or the name, it is not important or necesary for learning any language, it will be up to you to accomodate your usage
- 1003
I repeat here my previous post. There is a correspondence between the ending of any verb and the pronoun (person) such as in many other languages. In Spanish, there are usually more variants than in English.
To speak = hablar
I speak = yo hablo
you speak = tú hablas / usted habla
he/she speaks = él/ella habla
we speak = nosotros hablamos
you speak = vosotros habláis / ustedes hablan
they speak = ellos/ellas hablan
Notice that for the second person singular “you” can be translated as both “tú” (informal, familiar) or “usted” (more formal and polite in most countries). In the case of “usted” the ending is the same as for the third person.
Something similar happens with the second person plural “ustedes”. Incidentally, “ustedes” is used both as formal and informal in most Latin American countries and therefore “vosotros” is not used. “Vosotros” is used almost exclusively in Spain.
I thought that a female would end the word with an 'a', as in "Yo habla español." Is that incorrect?
- 1003
The verb ending does not change with gender, if that is your question. Both a woman and a man would say "yo hablo" (yo habla is incorrect). Similar with other persons, for example, notice that he/she speaks = él/ella habla
Is it just me, or does the guy say 'jo' instead of 'yo'? Is this the right way to say it? I have always pronounced it yo.
Why do we write "hablo" after Yo. Eg:- Sí, Yo hablo Inglis. Plzz explain the full concept that why hablo and not hablas or habla. Thank you.
Okay i get confused with when to say "hablo" and "habla" How do u know when to use them? Also "hablás"
- 1003
I have posted a detailed explanation in a previous post of this same thread.
As for "hablás" it has to do with a particular form of the second person singular, used in Argentina and probably a few other places of which I am not completely sure.
So the following expressions are equivalent:
you speak = tú hablas = vos hablás
You should not worry too much about that last particular form as "tú hablas" will be understood everywhere even if rarely used in those few places.
Hablo is "I speak" Hablas is "You speak" Hablan is "They speak" yo Hablo is "I speak"
I know nothing more sorry
I typed in so, yo hablo espanol, it gave it to me wrong and didn't recognize that it was just a typo. I find that frustrating on a smart phone because there are often typos
I have a question about "Yo" which means "i" in english Do i have to pronounciate 'yo or zo'???
- 1003
Verb ending is not affected by gender. Women and men say "hablo". "Hablas" is second person: "you speak".
I'm a little confused as to the difference between hablas and hablo . How do I know when.to use one or the other ?
I still get confused between "hablo" "hablos" and "habla* can someone please explain?
- 1003
Please see a detailed explanation that I gave in one of my previous posts. In addition notice that "hablos" does not exist
I think you mean "hablas", because I don't think you have already come across "hables" at that stage.
Like in many languages, Spanish verbs change their endings in correspondence with person and number:
I speak: (yo) hablo
he/she/it speaks: (él/ella) habla
we speak: (nosotros) hablamos
they speak: (ellos/ellas) hablan
you speak: singular informal (tú) hablas, singular formal (usted) habla, plural informal (vosotros) habláis, plural formal (ustedes) hablan
I know this isn't a question about the statement yes, I speak Spanish. But I wanted to question why in this program is ingles and espanol not capitolized
because they are not proper or given names but derivated from inglés comes from Inglaterra and español from España. I would be more worried about the accents or "tildes" because it could give a total diferent meaning. Inglés means related to england wile ingles is an area of the body
The verb changes its ending depending on the person. "hablo" is "(I) speak" and "hablas" is "(you) speak".
When I said ‘‘I speak English’’ it says that I'm wrong and it showed up I speak for that's really weird I don't know why
You just have to learn the verb endings. See the respective comments on this page.
They work for other verbs as well.
about which answer? We have no clue what you are talking about if you don't tell us this answer.
Nobody can know what you submitted, if you don't provide e.g. a screenshot.
I feel like "Yes, I do speak Spanish" should be accepted. I got it wrong for the extra 'do'. It is a bit unnecessary, but it should still count as correct.
Please read the other comments first before repeating already answered questions. See e.g. my comment on this page.
it could be sligtly changed depending on your accent, it may vary from continent, country, state, etc. simply in México, we have a lot of diferent accents, and I know that in Argentina they say "sho". I don't want to know across the pond.
Forgot The Comma But It Should Not Be Marked Wrong If Everything Is Spelled Correctly
And it isn't. Duolingo completely ignores punctuation. So there must have been another error.
it is more likely if you miss the accent you are changin the "Sí-- yes" to the "Si-- if"
READ THE OTHER COMMENTS (and the tips and notes). This has already been answered a thousand times.
Use of the pronoun is redundant. Hablo español is really quite adequate as per college professor.
I have sometimes problems with microphone, sometimes it seems this app doesn't even hear it, or better said it is trying to hear but not working
Hablo español should be an acceptable answer as the "yo" is implied by the verb ending.
On first play, the "sí" is missing from the audio. Not the first time I've lost health to this bug. (Android 9)
Bug in Android 9 app. The "sí" is missing from the audio on first play.
My Duolingo does not have accents or punctuation for responses in Spanish. And sometimes does not letvme finish before declaing it incorrect,
Not for Duo, because it (unfortunately) doesn't look at punctuation at all. But in real life: yes.
I feel that "Yes, I do speak Spanish" should be an acceptable answer here?
I chose "yes, I do speak spanish" and it was flagged as wrong because of the "do"...
"hablo" is "I speak", "hablas" is "you speak".
You shouls always read the tips and notes.
I was marked wrong with "hablo". No worries. it doesn't matter as long as I know I can say both
If the rest of your sentence is correct, you should use the "report" button next time. All the answers are done by ghumans and they might well have forgotten one possibility and are grateful if it is reported.
May take some time, however, to become active.
Not sure why I got this wrong... The answer to it was exactly what I wrote
Most probably you didn't notice some small difference.
If not: attach a screenshot.
Although "Yo hablo español" is still correct, but if you take out the first word, that's also correct.
I answered correctly. I spelled "Espanol" instead of "espanol" due to auto correct. Isn't that right anyway?
It is not correct. "ñ" and "n" are different letters.
But are you sure there was not another error somewhere else in your sentence?
What do you mean by "correct without grammar"? Sentences that don't comply to grammar can't be correct.
"nosotros" is "we" and "vosotros" is "you" (subject case, several persons informal)
The irony tho (Why do you say "I speak Spanish" in Spanish? It's kind of implied) -_-
You can leavee out the "yo" and say "Sí, hablo español" (note the accent and the comma).
"si hablo español" (without accent and comma) means "if I speak Spanish".
"si" means "if", but "sí" (with an accent, and that's what is used here) means "yes".
There 'I' in Spanish its 'yo' is sound like 'jo' in French language is 'I' pronounced as 'je' it also sound like 'jo'.
What are you referring to? What should this one be? Nobody here is clairvoyant.
"hablo" is indeed pronounced "ablo". But the standard pronunciation of "yo" is "yo" (there are some variations in dialects, "jo" is among them).
Because it is "I speak", not "you speak". Every person has its own verb ending.
I sometimes get yo mixed up with other words is there any way to avoid that
So i need to be on point with spelling too?? Typos keep making it seem like i got the question wrong....
So i need to be on point with spelling too??
Of course. Learning correct spelling is part of learning a language.
- 274
I have used " Si hablo español " every time,and been marked as correct .Why not this time?
Bruh I said "I speak español" instead of spanish. Don't be dumb like me lol
Is the verb "Hablo" changes according to who is speaking ? Cuz i have seen in previous lesson that when it was tu it is "hablas"
Every verb does that. This is called conjugation. Verbs changes their endings (and sometimes other things as well) depending on person and number.
This is tackled in the "tips and notes" sections.
Using thr pronoun "yo" or not. On the French=Spanish site, we are thought, that we can omite the pronoun
