Getting by
How to say “do you speak English” in Spanish
“¿Habla inglés?” asks politely if someone speaks English. Use “¿hablas inglés?” with a friend or someone young. Start with “perdone” (excuse me) to be polite.
In Spanish
¿Habla inglés?
Do you speak English?
Say it: AH-blah een-GLEHS
Other ways to say “do you speak English”
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¿Hablas inglés?
Do you speak English? (informal)
With friends, young people, people your age.
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¿Alguien habla inglés?
Does anyone speak English?
When you need help in a place with several people.
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¿Habla usted inglés?
Do you speak English? (formal)
Same meaning with the pronoun added for politeness.
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¿Puede hablar en inglés?
Can you speak in English?
Asking someone to switch language.
Example sentences
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Perdone, ¿habla inglés?
Excuse me, do you speak English?
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¿Hay alguien aquí que hable inglés?
Is there anyone here who speaks English?
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Hablo un poco de español, ¿y usted?
I speak a little Spanish, and you?
How to reply
Un poco
A little
Good to know
- Many people in tourist areas speak English, but a first attempt in Spanish is always appreciated.
- After “¿habla...?” the language comes with no article: “habla inglés”, “habla español”, “habla francés”.
Questions about “do you speak English” in Spanish
How do you say “do you speak English” in Spanish?
“do you speak English” in Spanish is “¿Habla inglés?” (Do you speak English?). It is pronounced AH-blah een-GLEHS. You can also say “¿Hablas inglés?”, “¿Alguien habla inglés?”, “¿Habla usted inglés?”.
How do you pronounce “¿Habla inglés?”?
“¿Habla inglés?” sounds like AH-blah een-GLEHS. The capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Tap the speaker on this page to hear it.
What are other ways to say “do you speak English” in Spanish?
“¿Hablas inglés?” (Do you speak English? (informal)): with friends, young people, people your age. “¿Alguien habla inglés?” (Does anyone speak English?): when you need help in a place with several people. “¿Habla usted inglés?” (Do you speak English? (formal)): same meaning with the pronoun added for politeness. “¿Puede hablar en inglés?” (Can you speak in English?): asking someone to switch language.
How do you reply to “¿Habla inglés?”?
A natural reply is “Un poco” (A little).
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