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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/es-habla-ingles

How do you politely ask a stranger 'Do you speak English?'

¿Habla usted inglés? is the polite way to ask.

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  1. ¿Habla usted inglés? ✔
  2. ¿Habla usted español?
  3. ¿Cómo se dice en inglés?

Why: Usted is the formal 'you', which is the safe choice with strangers. With friends and kids you can use ¿Hablas inglés? Inglés has an accent mark.

Huh, didn't know that: Spanish speakers do not capitalize inglés or español.

The dad joke
I asked a parrot in Spain if it spoke English. It said 'Polly-glot'.
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References

Answer: ¿Habla usted inglés?. Usted is the formal 'you', which is the safe choice with strangers. With friends and kids you can use ¿Hablas inglés? Inglés has an accent mark.

  1. FSI Spanish Basic Course, Volume 1 Student Text (US government, public domain) fsi-language-courses-media.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/languages/Spanish/Basic/Volume%201/Fsi-SpanishBasicCourse-Volume1-StudentText.pdf
    Do you speak English, Mr. Molina? ¿Habla usted inglés, señor Molina?
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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