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"Hablar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to speak", and "jefe" is a noun which is often translated as "boss". Learn more about the difference between "hablar" and "jefe" below.
hablar(
ah
-
blahr
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to speak
Los bebés comienzan a hablar a los 18 meses.Babies start speaking at around 18 months.
b. to talk
Escucho a alguien hablando, pero no sé de dónde viene.I can hear someone talking, but I don't know where's it coming from.
a. to talk
¿Necesitas a alguien con quien hablar?Do you need someone to talk to?
b. to speak
¿Podemos hablar en privado?Can we speak in private?
a. to speak
No se habla de otra cosa.That's all people speak about.
a. to speak
Habló un buen rato de las reformas que había propuesto el gobierno.He spoke at length about the reforms the government had proposed.
a. to call
Buenas tardes, ¿se encuentra la Sra. Martínez? - ¿Quién habla?Good afternoon, may I speak with Mrs. Martinez? - Who is calling?
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to speak
Hablo cinco idiomas y leo diez.I speak five languages and can read ten.
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)
Regionalism used in Argentina
(Argentina)
Regionalism used in El Salvador
(El Salvador)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(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.).
reciprocal verb
a. to speak to each other
Se hablan de mala manera.They speak to each other rudely.
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.
c. to speak to
¿Ya no te hablas con la vecina?Don't you speak to your neighbor anymore?
d. to talk to
Los padres de los novios no se hablan.The couple's parents don't talk to each other.
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.
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el jefe, la jefa(
heh
-
feh
)
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
masculine or feminine noun
a. boss
Creo que mi jefe intenta hacerme renunciar.I think my boss is trying to make me quit my job.
b. head
Alicia es la nueva jefa del departamento de portugués.Alicia is the new head of the Portuguese department.
c. leader
¿Quién es el jefe del grupo de voluntarios?Who is the leader of volunteer group?
d. manager
El jefe de área es Tom Peters.The area manager is Tom Peters.
e. chief
Lobo Sentado era el jefe de la tribu.Sitting Wolf was the chief of the tribe.
f. commander (military)
El jefe dijo que todos los cadetes deben estar listos a las 0600 horas.The commander said that all cadets must be ready at 0600.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
2.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(form of address)
a. boss
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
¿Qué onda, jefe? Dame dos cervezas y dos refrescos.What's up, boss? Give me two beers and two sodas.
b. buddy
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
Jefe, relájese; es sólo un rasguño.Relax, buddy; it's just a scratch.
c. mate
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
¿Cuánto le debo, jefe?How much is it, mate?
d. guv
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
Disculpe, jefe. ¿Dónde está el baño de hombres?Pardon me, guv. Where's the gents?
la jefa
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
3.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(wife)
a. old lady
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
¿Te gruñirá tu jefa si te vas al partido de futbol con tus cuates el domingo?Will your old lady give you grief if you go to the soccer game with your buddies on Sunday?
b. missis
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
¿Cómo están la jefa y los chiquillos?How are the missis and the kids?
4.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(mother)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
(Central America)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
a. old lady
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
¿Cómo está tu jefa? ¿Sigue enferma?How's your old lady? Is she still ill?
b. mom
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
Mi jefa no me deja ir a la fiesta.My mom won't let me go to the party.
c. mum
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
Esos de la foto somos mi jefa y yo cuando yo era chavo.Those two in the picture are my mum and me when I was young.
los jefes, las jefas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
plural noun
5.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(parents)
a. folks
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Cuando tenía 16 años, mis jefes no me dejaban salir de noche con mi novio.When I was 16, my folks wouldn't let me go out with my boyfriend at night.
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