Did you know that the verb “hablar” (to speak or to talk) is not only used to refer to the act of verbal communication, but also appears in many Spanish expressions with figurative meanings?
These idioms with “hablar” are very common in colloquial Spanish, especially in Spain.
If you master them, you’ll be able to better understand spoken Spanish and sound more natural when expressing yourself.
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The most common expressions with the verb “hablar” in Spain
Below, we explain some of the most popular idioms with the verb “hablar”, along with examples to show how they are used in different contexts.
Hablar por los codos
This expression literally means “to speak through one’s elbows,” and it’s used to describe someone who talks a lot—nonstop. It refers to very talkative people who don’t give others a chance to speak in a conversation.
Examples:
- Mi abuela habla por los codos y siempre tiene algo que contar.
(My grandmother talks endlessly and always has something to say.) - No invites a Pedro a la reunión, porque habla por los codos y no deja hablar a nadie.
(Don’t invite Pedro to the meeting; he talks nonstop and doesn’t let anyone else speak.) - Desde que conoció a Laura, habla por los codos de lo enamorado que está.
(Since he met Laura, he won’t stop talking about how in love he is.) - Cada vez que llamo a mi madre, terminamos hablando por los codos.
(Every time I call my mom, we end up talking for ages.)
Hablar en cristiano
Literally “to speak in Christian,” this phrase means to speak clearly and simply, without technical terms or complicated words. It’s used when someone is speaking in a way that’s hard to understand.
Examples:
- No entiendo nada de este contrato. ¿Me lo puedes explicar en cristiano?
(I don’t understand a thing about this contract. Can you explain it to me in plain language?) - El profesor nos habló de economía con términos técnicos. Ojalá lo hubiera explicado en cristiano.
(The professor talked about economics using technical terms. I wish he had explained it in plain English.) - Siempre que hablas de informática, me pierdo. ¡Habla en cristiano!
(Whenever you talk about computers, I get lost. Speak plainly!) - Le pregunté al médico qué tenía y usó términos rarísimos. Le pedí que me hablara en cristiano y entonces lo entendí.
(I asked the doctor what I had, and he used really strange terms. I asked him to speak plainly, and then I understood.)
Hablar sin tapujos
This expression means to speak directly, without filters or euphemisms. It’s used when someone expresses their opinion honestly and straightforwardly.
Examples:
- Me gusta la gente que habla sin tapujos y dice las cosas como son.
(I like people who speak openly and say things as they are.) - Hablaré sin tapujos: no me gustó la comida y creo que deberías mejorar la receta.
(I’ll be blunt: I didn’t like the food, and I think you should improve the recipe.) - Si queremos solucionar el problema, tenemos que hablar sin tapujos.
(If we want to solve the problem, we need to speak openly.) - Cuando me preguntaron qué pensaba, hablé sin tapujos y les dije la verdad.
(When they asked me what I thought, I spoke frankly and told them the truth.)
Hablar pestes de alguien
Literally “to speak plagues about someone,” this phrase means to criticize or speak very badly about a person, usually behind their back.
Examples:
- Siempre hablas pestes de tu jefe, pero nunca te atreves a cambiar de trabajo.
(You’re always badmouthing your boss, but you never dare to quit your job.) - No entiendo por qué sigues viendo a Laura si hablas pestes de ella todo el tiempo.
(I don’t get why you keep seeing Laura if you’re always talking badly about her.) - Cuando Juan se fue, empezaron a hablar pestes de él.
(When Juan left, they started talking trash about him.) - Si hablas pestes de todos tus amigos, al final te quedarás sin ninguno.
(If you badmouth all your friends, you’ll end up with none.)
Hablar en plata
This phrase means to speak clearly and directly, saying exactly what you think without worrying about being diplomatic. It’s similar to “to speak frankly” or “to be straight with someone.”
Examples:
- Voy a hablar en plata: tu actitud no me gusta nada.
(I’ll be frank: I don’t like your attitude at all.) - Hablar en plata significa decir las cosas tal como son, sin adornarlas.
(To “speak plainly” means to say things as they are, without sugarcoating them.) - Hablando en plata, no tengo tiempo para tus excusas.
(Frankly speaking, I don’t have time for your excuses.) - Si me pides mi opinión, te la diré hablando en plata: no creo que sea buena idea.
(If you ask for my opinion, I’ll be straight with you: I don’t think it’s a good idea.)
Hablar con segundas
This expression is used when someone hints or implies something instead of saying it directly. It’s often used when someone is dropping subtle messages or “reading between the lines.”
Examples:
- No me gusta la gente que habla con segundas. Prefiero que me digan las cosas a la cara.
(I don’t like people who speak with hidden meanings. I prefer when people tell me things directly.) - Creo que estaba hablando con segundas cuando dijo que algunos no trabajan lo suficiente.
(I think he was hinting when he said that some people don’t work hard enough.) - Si tienes algo que decirme, dilo claramente y no hables con segundas.
(If you have something to tell me, say it clearly and don’t beat around the bush.) - Siempre que habla de su ex, lo hace con segundas. Creo que todavía le duele.
(Whenever he talks about his ex, he does it with hidden meaning. I think it still hurts him.)
Hablar por hablar
This means to speak without thinking, without a clear purpose, or just to fill the silence.
Examples:
- A veces es mejor quedarse callado que hablar por hablar.
(Sometimes it’s better to stay quiet than to talk just for the sake of it.) - No te lo tomes en serio, estaba hablando por hablar.
(Don’t take it seriously; I was just talking.) - No me gusta la gente que habla por hablar sin aportar nada interesante.
(I don’t like people who talk for the sake of talking without saying anything interesting.) - Si no tienes nada útil que decir, mejor no hables por hablar.
(If you have nothing useful to say, it’s better not to talk just to talk.)
Hablar largo y tendido
This expression means to talk at length or have a long, detailed conversation about a topic. It’s used for deep or extensive discussions.
Examples:
- Ayer hablé largo y tendido con mi madre sobre mi futuro.
(Yesterday I had a long, deep conversation with my mom about my future.) - Cuando nos vemos, hablamos largo y tendido de todo lo que nos ha pasado.
(When we see each other, we talk for hours about everything that’s happened.) - Tuvimos que hablar largo y tendido antes de tomar una decisión.
(We had to talk things through for a long time before making a decision.) - Si quieres entender el problema, debemos hablar largo y tendido sobre ello.
(If you want to understand the problem, we need to talk about it in depth.)
Hablar a las espaldas de alguien
This means to speak badly about someone when they’re not present. It’s considered disloyal or hypocritical.
Examples:
- No me gusta la gente que habla a mis espaldas.
(I don’t like people who talk behind my back.) - Si tienes algo que decirme, dímelo a la cara y no hables a mis espaldas.
(If you have something to say to me, say it to my face and don’t talk behind my back.) - Se enteró de que hablaban a sus espaldas y se enfadó mucho.
(He found out they were talking behind his back and got really angry.) - Hablar a las espaldas de los demás es una falta de respeto.
(Talking behind people’s backs is disrespectful.)
Hablar el mismo idioma
This expression is used when two people share the same ideas, values, or interests and understand each other perfectly—literally, “to speak the same language.”
Examples:
- Desde el primer día supe que seríamos amigos porque hablamos el mismo idioma.
(From the very first day, I knew we’d be friends because we speak the same language.) - Aunque vengamos de países distintos, hablamos el mismo idioma en cuanto a valores.
(Even though we come from different countries, we speak the same language when it comes to values.) - Mi pareja y yo hablamos el mismo idioma, por eso nos llevamos tan bien.
(My partner and I speak the same language, that’s why we get along so well.) - Cuando trabajas en equipo, es fundamental hablar el mismo idioma para entenderse.
(When you work as a team, it’s essential to speak the same language to understand each other.)
Why is it important to learn these idioms with “hablar”?
Learning these Spanish expressions with the verb hablar is key to better understanding colloquial Spanish and expressing yourself more naturally.
These phrases are frequently used in informal conversations, movies, TV shows, and books, so knowing them will help you grasp the real meaning behind what native speakers say.
Moreover, using them correctly will make you sound more fluent and show greater mastery of the language. It also helps you avoid misunderstandings, since their meanings are not always literal.
Are these expressions used throughout the Spanish-speaking world?
Some are, but most are more common in Spain. Each country has its own idioms with “hablar”, so it’s best to learn the ones most used in the region where you live or plan to communicate.
Can these idioms be used in formal situations?
Using these expressions in formal contexts depends on the situation and your level of familiarity with the person you’re talking to.
Some phrases, such as “hablar sin tapujos” or “hablar en plata,” can be used in work meetings or debates without issue, as long as the tone is appropriate.
However, others like “hablar pestes de alguien” or “hablar por los codos” are much more colloquial and can sound unprofessional.
In formal environments, it’s better to choose more neutral language and avoid overly informal idioms. If you’re unsure, observe how others communicate and adapt your language to the context.
That’s the end of our guide on these expressions with the verb “hablar.” They’re part of the richness of the Spanish language and will help you sound more natural in conversation. We hope this guide has been helpful and that you now feel more confident using them.
Did you already know some of these idioms? Which one caught your attention the most? Leave us a comment and tell us which is your favorite!
