Habla or hablas?

Question

I was listening to a Pimsler Spanish CD and heard something peculiar. For (you speak) they said (habla.) Isn't the proper conjugation (hablas) for (you speak)? I'm betting on hablas. I realize they might have been referring to the "other" you/it in habla but I'm not used to that. I prefer Hablas for (you).

Answer 1

Hi Clay,

In this case they are referring to : Usted, in Spain they use the form tú, but in most of the other Spanish speaking countries they prefer to use the form Usted

Check this thread if you want to know more Do you actually use the ''usted'' form?

No wonder. So, they make these discs in the "proper" nomenclature and not the Mexican or/South American Spanish. - claylavl, Mar 6, 2011

Actually most Mexican people use the form ''usted'' but the form tu is probably only used in Spain ;) - 00b6f46c, Mar 6, 2011

Lovely, I think you will find that it is ''hablaís'', which is used with the vosotros form that is only used in Spain :) - FELIZ77, May 12, 2011

In South America the plural you form hablan is used In Argentina they use vos but I am not sure if this is in addition to or instead of 3rd person plural :hablan - FELIZ77, May 12, 2011

Answer 2

Hi, Clay,

Yo hablo, tú hablas (singular, familiar) él, ella, habla usted habla (singular, formal)

You use the familiar for friends, children and pets.

You use the formal for strangers, people that are older than you and to be respectul. I hope this helpsl

I already knew that but what suprised me what the use of "habla" for "you." I'm not used to hearing that. - claylavl, Mar 6, 2011

Well, get used to hearing it. - Azabache, May 12, 2011

Answer 3

I have listened to and used Pimsleur tapes before and they teach the formal form habla which is used with Ud before they teach the informal form hablas (used with tú)

This is just how Pimsleur work There is nothing wrong with it and some benefits to be gained by knowing how to speak to people eg: strangers and people in authority formally or politely as well as learning how to converse informally with friends. ... The formal habla is taught in schools and colleges and is approparite for addressing strangers, older people and people in authority such as bosses the second you can pick up through chatting to friends and is appropriate for talking to friends, family children and people younger than you. Both types are important in different social situations it is just that the informal tu form is more common in Spain

I hope that helps

Answer 4

You answered your own question, it must have been the formal you "usted"

yo hablo, tú hablas, usted/él/ella habla, nosotros/as hablamos, vosotros/as habláis, ustedes/ellos/ellas hablan

I kinda figured it was the formal you but I needed verification on the matter. - claylavl, Mar 6, 2011

Answer 5

You - "Tu" Hablas You - "Usted/Ustedes" Hablan