Thread: Digo and hablo

Hi folks,


What is the difference between hablo and digo? If I say "I speak Spanish" which of follows shall I use in conversation;

Digo el español

hablo español
?


Shall I add "el" in conversation ? What shall I use in written Spanish ? How the sentence will be written ?

TIA

B.R.
satimis

Just for fun, I'll answer this, but I'm not a native speaker so let's both wait for confirmation.

Digo (from decir) = to say
Hablo (from hablar) = to speak, to talk

I speak Spanish. = Hablo español.

Use el before the word español, but not with hablar or estudiar.

Originally Posted by mariaklec

Just for fun, I'll answer this, but I'm not a native speaker so let's both wait for confirmation.

Digo (from decir) = to say
Hablo (from hablar) = to speak, to talk

I speak Spanish. = Hablo español.

Use el before the word español, but not with hablar or estudiar.

Hi mariaklec,

Advice noted and thanks

B.R.
satimis

Digo (from decir) = to say
Hablo (from hablar) = to speak, to talk

that is correct.
However, you say 'el español' only when refering to the language itself, as in 'el (idioma) español'.
you would never say: hablo el español*

I guess I'm not sure when español refers to "the language itself" and when it refers to something else (or what that something else would be).

For me, it just helps to remember that you don't use the el with hablar or estudiar.

Originally Posted by lmatiasm

Digo (from decir) = to say
Hablo (from hablar) = to speak, to talk

that is correct.
However, you say 'el español' only when refering to the language itself, as in 'el (idioma) español'.
you would never say: hablo el español*

Hi Imatiasm,

Thanks for your advice.

Can you understand Spanish
Puede usted entender español

Does it sound as native speaking ?

I suppose;
usted - you (singular pronoun); second person: formal:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ustedes
?

Saludo
satimis

Can you understand Spanish
Puede usted entender español

Does it sound as native speaking ?

I suppose;
usted - you (singular pronoun); second person: formal:

HI SATIMIS,
LOOK!!! "PUEDE USTED ENTENDER ESPAÑOL", WOULD BE OK IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS. HOWEVER IT DOES NOT SOUND COMPLETELY AS NATIVE SPEAKING. YOU CAN SAY "ENTIENDE ESPAÑOL? IF YOU ADDRESS SOMEBODY FORMALLY, OR ENTENDÉS ESPAÑOL, IF YOU ADDRESS SB. INFORMALLY. NOW, SPANISH PEOPLE WOULD SAY "ENTIENDES (INFORMAL)/ENTIENDE(FORMAL) ESPAÑOL? WITH THE EMPHASIS ON TIEN, I MEAN THE ACCENT FALLS ON "TIEN" = "ENTIENDES". IN ARGENTINA, WE SAY, "ENTENDÉS....? "DES" CARRIES THE ACCENT.
HOPE TO HAVE BEEN HELPFUL
PS "ENTIENDES ESPAÑOL" MAY BE UNDERSTOOD AS I UNDERSTAND IT BUT I DON'T SPEAK SPANISH.

Originally Posted by diegonel

Can you understand Spanish
Puede usted entender español

Does it sound as native speaking ?

I suppose;
usted - you (singular pronoun); second person: formal:

HI SATIMIS,
LOOK!!! "PUEDE USTED ENTENDER ESPAÑOL", WOULD BE OK IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS. HOWEVER IT DOES NOT SOUND COMPLETELY AS NATIVE SPEAKING. YOU CAN SAY "ENTIENDE ESPAÑOL? IF YOU ADDRESS SOMEBODY FORMALLY, OR ENTENDÉS ESPAÑOL, IF YOU ADDRESS SB. INFORMALLY. NOW, SPANISH PEOPLE WOULD SAY "ENTIENDES (INFORMAL)/ENTIENDE(FORMAL) ESPAÑOL? WITH THE EMPHASIS ON TIEN, I MEAN THE ACCENT FALLS ON "TIEN" = "ENTIENDES". IN ARGENTINA, WE SAY, "ENTENDÉS....? "DES" CARRIES THE ACCENT.
HOPE TO HAVE BEEN HELPFUL
PS "ENTIENDES ESPAÑOL" MAY BE UNDERSTOOD AS I UNDERSTAND IT BUT I DON'T SPEAK SPANISH.

Hi diegonel,

Your advice noted. Thanks

B.R.
satimis