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"Hablar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to speak", and "escuchar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to listen to". Learn more about the difference between "hablar" and "escuchar" below.
hablar(
ah
-
blahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to discuss
Eso tienes que hablarlo directamente con el director.You need to discuss that directly with the principal.
b. to say
¿Verdaderamente no tienes nada de qué hablarme?You really don't have anything to say to me?
8. (to call) (Argentina) (El Salvador) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Argentina
Regionalism used in El Salvador
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. to phone
Ahora que tienes su número, ¿le vas a hablar?Now that you have her number, are you going to phone her?
hablarse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
b. to talk to each other
Deberían hablarse con más frecuencia para que no surja este tipo de problema.They should talk to each other more often to avoid this type of issue coming up.
e. to be on speaking terms
Los primos no se hablan después de la pelea sobre la herencia.The cousins aren't on speaking terms after the fight over the inheritance.
escuchar(
ehs
-
koo
-
chahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to listen to
Escucha al profesor siempre que te dé instrucciones.Always listen to the teacher when you are given instructions.
Ella suele escuchar jazz de camino al trabajo.She usually listens to jazz on her way to work.
2. (to discern) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
3. (to heed)
a. to listen to
¿Me escucharás si te digo que no desesperes?Will you listen to me if I tell you not to panic?
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
escucharse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to listen to oneself
A veces me escucho y no sé lo que digo.Sometimes I listen to myself and I don't know what I'm saying.
b. to hear oneself
Le encanta escucharse contando sus cuentos y haciendo a sus amigas reir.She loves hearing herself telling her stories and making her friends laugh.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¿Pero tú te escuchas? ¿Sabes lo loco que suena eso?Listen to yourself! Do you know how wacky that sounds?
Mi jefa no para de hablar en reuniones porque que le encanta escucharse.My boss never stops talking in meetings because she loves the sound of her own voice.
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to listen to each other
No sé cuándo paramos de escucharnos.I don't know when we stopped listening to each other.
