habla

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈabla/

Etymology 1

From Latin fābula (“discourse”)

Noun

habla f (plural hablas)

1. speech (faculty of speech)
2. speaking (action)

Usage notes

The feminine noun habla is like other feminine nouns starting with a stressed a sound in that it takes the definite article el (normally reserved for masculine nouns) in the singular when there is no intervening adjective:

el habla

However, if an adjective intervenes between the article and the noun, the article reverts to la.

Related terms

• hablar

Etymology 2

From the verb hablar

Verb

habla

1. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present indicative form of hablar.

   Habla. — “He [or she] speaks.”

   (Usted) habla. — (formal singular) “(You) speak.”

2. Informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of hablar.

   ¡Habla! — (informal singular) The command, “Speak!”