When you first learn Spanish, you're taught that "to talk" or "to speak" is hablar. And while hablar is certainly the most common and versatile verb for speaking, Spanish offers a rich variety of alternatives that can make your conversations sound more natural and native-like. Today, we'll explore some essential verbs that native speakers use when they want to express the idea of talking or chatting with someone.

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What We Mean by Hablar

Before we dive into alternatives, let's clarify what we mean. The verb hablar has several meanings, but we're focusing specifically on its use when referring to communication between people. 

This is the hablar you use when you say things like "Ayer hablé con mi madre" (Yesterday, I talked with my mother) or "Necesito hablar contigo" (I need to talk with you). But here's the interesting part—native speakers don't always stick to just hablar. In fact, they naturally alternate between different verbs to express the same idea:

que venimos a platicar un poquito y a hablar, eh, sobre el emprendimiento,

as we're here to chat a little bit and talk, um, about entrepreneurship

Caption 6, Adriana y Laura Emprendimiento - Part 1

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Notice how this speaker uses both platicar and hablar in the same sentence. This is completely natural in Spanish. Now, let's look at some of these alternatives that will enrich your Spanish vocabulary.

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Conversar | The Art of Conversation

Conversar is perhaps the most elegant synonym for hablar when discussing two-way communication. It emphasizes the back-and-forth nature of a conversation rather than just speaking.

Pero quiero conversar un rato con vos, ¿sabes? Quiero...

But I want to chat with you for a while, you know? I want...

Caption 64, Yago 8 Descubrimiento - Part 6

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This verb is widely used and works in both formal and informal contexts. You might use it when describing a pleasant chat with a friend: Ayer conversé con Ana sobre sus planes de viaje (Yesterday, I conversed with Ana about her travel plans).

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Platicar | A Mexican Favorite

If you're learning Latin American Spanish, especially Mexican Spanish, you'll hear platicar all the time. This verb is a popular way to express "to chat" or "to have a conversation," and it's particularly common in Mexico.

Y ahora les quiero platicar solamente de un tipo de música

And now, I want to talk to you about just one type of music

Caption 40, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Manuel y El barrilito

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Platicar has a warm, friendly tone and is commonly used in casual settings. You might hear someone say "Vamos a platicar un rato" (Let's chat for a while) or "¿De qué estaban platicando?" (What were you all talking about?).

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Charlar | A Casual Alternative

Charlar is another excellent verb for casual conversation. Like platicar, it conveys the idea of chatting or having an informal talk.

Vamos a un café a charlar tranquilas.

Let's go to a cafe to chat in peace.

Caption 46, Español para principiantes Saludos y encuentros

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You'll often hear charlar when people are describing social interactions: "Me encanta charlar con mis vecinos" (I love chatting with my neighbors) or "Estuvimos charlando toda la tarde" (We were chatting all afternoon).

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Dialogar | When Conversation Gets Serious

While conversar, platicar, and charlar all suggest friendly, casual exchanges, dialogar often implies a more structured or purposeful conversation. This verb suggests dialogue in the truest sense—an exchange of ideas, often with the goal of reaching understanding or agreement.

y, posteriormente, poder dialogar sobre nuestros sentimientos,

and subsequently being able to converse about our feelings

Caption 10, Aprendiendo con Silvia Las emociones - Part 1

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You might use dialogar when discussing negotiations, debates, or important discussions: "Los dos países necesitan dialogar para resolver el conflicto" (The two countries need to dialogue to resolve the conflict). It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it tends to carry a slightly more serious tone than the other verbs we've covered.

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Bonus: These Verbs Double as Nouns (But Hablar Doesn't!)

Here's something particularly useful about these four verbs—they all have corresponding noun forms that you can use in everyday conversation. This is a feature that hablar doesn't share in the same natural way.

Conversación (conversation)

When you want to talk about "a conversation" rather than the act of conversing, you use conversación. This is probably the most common and formal of the four nouns.

Es la grabación de una conversación que tenemos Lida y yo

It's the recording of a conversation that Lida and I have

Caption 8, Los casos de Yabla Problemas de convivencia - Part 3

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You might say: "Tuve una conversación interesante con mi jefe" (I had an interesting conversation with my boss) or "Necesitamos tener una conversación seria" (We need to have a serious conversation).

Plática (chat/talk)

Una plática refers to a chat or informal talk, and it carries the same warm, friendly tone as the verb platicar.

autora del exitoso blog, "Plata con plática",

author of the successful blog, "Cash chat,"

Caption 2, Cuentas claras Sobreviviendo enero - Part 1

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You'll hear things like: "Fue una plática muy agradable" (It was a very pleasant chat) or "Vamos a tener una plática sobre el proyecto" (We're going to have a talk about the project).

Charla (chat/talk)

Una charla is particularly interesting because it has a double meaning. It can refer to both an informal chat between people and a more formal talk or presentation, like a lecture or speech.

No estuve en la cocina para escuchar la charla entre mi mamá y mi abuela,

I wasn't in the kitchen to hear the chat between my mom and my grandma,

Caption 4, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 8 - Part 5

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Here we see charla used to mean an informal conversation between family members. But the word can also mean a formal presentation:

tengo que dar una charla,

I have to give a talk,

Caption 31, Amaya El Refugio del Burrito

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This versatility makes charla especially useful. You might say "Disfruté mucho nuestra charla de ayer" (I really enjoyed our chat yesterday) when talking about a casual conversation, or "El profesor dio una charla sobre historia" (The professor gave a talk about history) when referring to a presentation.

Diálogo (dialogue)

Un diálogo typically refers to a more structured exchange, whether between two people, two groups, or even in written form (like dialogue in a book or movie). You might also encounter it in contexts like: "Es importante mantener un diálogo abierto" (It's important to maintain an open dialogue):

María Damanaki se ha comprometido a iniciar un diálogo urgente con Marruecos

Maria Damanaki has committed to initiate an urgent dialogue with Morocco

Caption 61, Europa Abierta Aguas en discordia

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Why doesn't hablar work this way?

While Spanish does have the noun el habla, it doesn't function as a direct equivalent. El habla refers to speech in general, the faculty of speaking, or a dialect—not to a specific instance of talking with someone. You can't naturally say Tuve una habla con mi amigo the way you can say Tuve una conversación/plática/charla/diálogo con mi amigo.

This makes learning these four verbs even more valuable—you're essentially getting eight useful words (four verbs and four nouns) that will make your Spanish much more expressive and natural.

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📌 Choosing the Right Verb

So how do you know which verb to use? Here are some quick guidelines:

• Use conversar when you want to sound polished and when emphasizing two-way communication

• Use platicar for casual, friendly chats

• Use charlar for casual, informal conversations  

• Use dialogar when the conversation involves exchanging ideas or has a more serious purpose

The beauty of having all these options is that you can vary your Spanish vocabulary and express subtle differences in meaning. Each verb adds a slightly different flavor to your speech, making your Spanish richer and more nuanced.

Next time you're about to use hablar, consider whether one of these alternatives might sound more natural in context. The more you practice using these verbs and their noun forms, the more instinctive it will become to choose the right one for each situation.

We hope this lesson helps you expand your conversational vocabulary in Spanish. Share your experiences with us—which of these verbs do you hear most often in your Spanish learning journey?

Do you know the names of articles of clothing in Spanish? Knowing what clothing items in Spanish are called might help you on your next Spanish quiz or, better yet, on that shopping spree on your next vacation to a Spanish-speaking country! Let's explore some clothing vocabulary in Spanish with lots of examples from our Yabla Spanish library.

How Do You Say "Clothing" in Spanish?

First, let's note that the most common way to talk about clothing in English is with the less formal noun "clothes," which is always plural. That said, the Spanish equivalent for "clothes" or "clothing" in Spanish is the noun la ropa, which is almost always used in the singular! Let's take a look:

Bueno, si tienes mucha ropa.

Well, if you have a lot of clothes.

Me encanta la ropa y soy adicta a los zapatos.

I love clothes and, I'm a shoe addict.

Captions 19-20, Ricardo - La compañera de casa

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However, on some, less formal occasions, primarily in Latin America, you may come across the plural form las ropas: 

vestidos básicamente con ropas de seda,

dressed basically in silk clothing,

Caption 33, Días festivos - La diablada pillareña

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Additional nouns for saying "the clothes" or "clothing" in Spanish in a general fashion include both la vestimenta and la indumentaria, whereas the noun la prenda (de vestir) describes an individual clothing "item" or "garment":

a esta prenda la llamamos "chompa",

we call this garment a "chompa" [jacket],

Caption 18, Ana Carolina - Lavandería

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Clothing Vocabulary in Spanish

Now, let's learn the names of some of the most common articles of clothing in Spanish, hearing most of them pronounced via clips from our Yabla Spanish library. For some items, we will provide several Spanish names since there is a lot of variation in how these items are said from country to country. 

Bathing suit: el traje de baño, el vestido de baño, el bañador, la malla

A mí, el vestido de baño porque ya saben, me gusta la playa.

For me, my bathing suit because, you already know, I like the beach.

Caption 41, Cleer y Lida - Juego de preguntas y respuestas

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Note that the term la malla refers to a women's swimsuit and is most commonly heard in Argentina:

Ay, Mili, pará, no tengo malla.

Oh Mili stop, I don't have a swimsuit.

Caption 35, Muñeca Brava - 9 Engaños

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Of course, the word "bikini" remains the same in Spanish:

Si hace calor... el bikini.

If it's warm... the bikini.

Caption 14, Un Viaje a Mallorca - Planificando el viaje

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Pajamas: el/la piyama, el/la pijama

Notice the alternative spellings for the nouns for "pajamas" in Spanish (one with a y and one with a j), and while both versions are used with the masculine article in Spain and South America, the feminine article is employed in the rest of Latin America. Furthermore, although it is prevalent to see them in singular, you may also run into their plural forms (pijamas/piyamas).

A la ropa de dormir en Latinoamérica la llamamos con el anglicismo piyama, 

In Latin America, we call sleepwear the anglicism "piyama" [pajamas],

Caption 11, Ana Carolina - Arreglando el dormitorio

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Pants: el pantalón, los pantalones

Interestingly, either the singular plural form of this noun can be used to refer to a pair of pants or simply "pants," as in the following two examples:

Necesito un pantalón negro. -OK.

I need some black pants. -OK.

Caption 8, Cleer y Carolina - De compras

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"Se me han roto los pantalones", por ejemplo.

"Se me han roto los pantalones" [My pants have ripped], for example.

Caption 69, Clase Aula Azul - Se involuntario

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Scarf: la bufanda, el pañuelo

While la bufanda usually describes the type of scarf one might wear to keep warm in the snow, el pañuelo refers to more of a bandana-type scarf:

Menos mal que llevaba una bufanda. 

Thank God I was wearing a scarf.

Caption 21, Aprendiendo con Zulbany - Piensa rápido

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Shirt: la camisa

Me gusta la camisa.

I like the shirt.

Caption 4, Extr@: Extra en español - Ep. 2: Sam va de compras - Part 6

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Shorts: los pantalones cortos

Algunos clubs permiten el uso de pantalones cortos o bermudas. 

Some clubs allow the use of shorts or bermudas.

Caption 64, Montserrat - El golf

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Skirt: la falda

Esta falda está muy larga. 

This skirt is too long.

Caption 46, Los Años Maravillosos - Capítulo 3

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As you may have guessed, the Spanish word for "miniskirt" is la minifalda:

Ya admití suficiente con que se pusiera la corrompisiña esa de la minifalda.

I permitted enough with you putting on that corrupt miniskirt.

Caption 15, La Sucursal del Cielo - Capítulo 1 - Part 10

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Socks: las medias, los calcetínes

Let's hear the terms for "socks" in Colombia and other parts of Latin America vs. Spain:

Lo que acabamos de ver, en Colombia

What we just saw, in Colombia,

lo llamamos "medias", las "medias".

we call "medias" [socks], "medias."

¿En España? Son los "calcetines". -Los "calcetines". 

In Spain? They're "calcetines" [socks]. -"Calcetines."

Captions 39-41, Carlos y Xavi - Part 3 Diferencias de vocabulario entre España y Colombia

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If you are interested in more such differences, check out this series on pronunciation and vocabulary differences between Spain and Colombia. 

Sweatsuit: el chándal, el buzo, el jogging

Entonces no podemos olvidar el chándal tampoco.

Then we can't forget a tracksuit either.

Caption 62, Un Viaje a Mallorca - Planificando el viaje

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T-shirt: la camiseta, la remera

Andrea lleva una camiseta de manga corta de color blanco 

Andrea is wearing a white short-sleeved t-shirt

Caption 40, El Aula Azul - Conversaciones sobre fotos

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Suit: el traje

se vistió con su mejor traje, 

put on his best suit,

Caption 34, Aprendiendo con Carlos - El microrrelato

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Tank Top: la camiseta sin mangas, la camiseta de tirantes, la musculosa

Te creo. -Bueno, me dio la musculosa para salir. 

I believe you. -Well, he gave me the tank top to go out.

Caption 51, Yago - 1 La llegada - Part 5

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Tie: la corbata

Qué linda corbata.

What a nice tie.

Caption 2, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa - Capítulo 5 - Part 5

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Although the term la corbata typically refers to a necktie, there are many words to describe a bow tie in Spanish, including el moño, el corbatín, la pajarita, la lacita, la corbata de moño, and la corbata de lazo. 

Vest: el chaleco

tenemos que llevar siempre un chaleco reflectante 

we must always wear a reflective vest

Caption 56, Raquel y Marisa - Aprender a conducir

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Outerwear in Spanish

There are so many different Spanish words for "sweaters," "sweatshirts,"  "jackets," "coats," and other outerwear, and every country has their own way to talk about these articles of clothing in Spanish. In fact, some of the same Spanish terms are used to describe different items in different countries. Let's take a look.

Jacket: la chaqueta, la chamarra, la campera, la cazadora, la chompa

Even within the English language, it is sometimes a fine line between what constitutes a "jacket" vs. a "coat," which some people view as synonymous. That said, the above-referenced Spanish terms generally refer to something more sporty, casual, and/or lighter weight.

¡Una chaqueta de cuero! 

A leather jacket!

Caption 48, Extr@: Extra en español - Ep. 2: Sam va de compras - Part 2

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Raincoat: el chubasquero, el impermeable, el piloto, el sobretodo

Los días de lluvia llevábamos un chubasquero y botas de agua. 

On rainy days, we wore a raincoat and rain boots.

Captions 54-55, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Recuerdos de infancia

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Undergarments in Spanish

Now, let's hear how to say the general term for "underwear" or "undergarments" in Spanish before moving on to the many words for the more specific articles of clothing in Spanish in this category:

No, no es bombachitas. En todo caso es ropa interior.

No, it's not panties. In any case, it's underwear.

Caption 68, Muñeca Brava - 43 La reunión

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Footwear in Spanish

To conclude this lesson, we'll examine how to say the words for the more general "footwear" and "shoes" in Spanish prior to learning some more specific vocabulary:

Yo me dedicaba a vender calzado; tenía un almacén.

My job was selling footwear; I had a shop.

Captions 55-56, Imbabura - Paramédicos

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That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has helped you to learn a lot of articles of clothing in Spanish, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments.

Do you know how to use the preposition con (most commonly translated as "with") in Spanish? Let's explore some of the various ways of using this preposition correctly.

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Con to Describe Accompaniment

Like its English counterpart, the first use of the preposition con that most likely comes to mind is to introduce the concept of accompaniment by someone or something. We can find this use in the name of some of our series such as Aprendiendo con Carlos, Paseando con Karen, and also in the words of Ester from El Aula Azul:

Quédate con nosotros hoy

Stay with us today,

y aprende algo nuevo en nuestra clase.

and learn something new in our class.

Captions 4-5, Clase Aula Azul - Información con subjuntivo e indicativo

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The way con is used here is no different from the way we use "with" to describe accompaniment in English. However, it is worth mentioning that stranded prepositions (prepositions separated from their objects and often placed at the end of the sentence) do not occur in Spanish. Thus, a question like the one below must place the preposition con next to its object quién at the beginning of the sentence, as opposed to the manner in which "who" and "with" can be separated in informal English. 

¿Y con quién vives en Alemania?

And who do you live with in Germany?

Caption 21, La rutina diaria - La mañana

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Con Used to Indicate the Means or Tools Used to Do Something

The preposition con can also be employed to introduce the means or tools used to do an activity or achieve something. 

Hazlo primero con lápiz y después con plumón.

Do it first in pencil and then with a marker.

Caption 17, Manos a la obra - Separadores de libros: Pikachu

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Y os puedo asegurar que

And I can assure you that,

con paciencia y con disciplina se consigue todo.

with patience and discipline, one can achieve anything.

Caption 73, Fermín y los gatos - Mi gata Bimba

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We also use the preposition con in Spanish to introduce the way something is done or how it should be done:

¡Por acá, Guillermina, con cuidado!

Through here, Guillermina, carefully!

Caption 30, Guillermina y Candelario - Una película de terror

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Notice that the word cuidado can also appear before con in phrases such as the following:

Cuidado con el perro.

Beware of the dog.

Or, as Karen warns us in her video:

Mucho cuidado con lo que escribes.

[Be] very careful with what you write.

Caption 38, Aprendiendo con Karen - Útiles escolares

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Using Con with Verbs

When the preposition con is followed by an infinitive, it can function as a gerund (the -ing form of a verb, which functions as a noun):

Con decir perdón es suficiente.

Saying you're sorry is enough.

Caption 20, Muñeca Brava - 47 Esperanzas

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Con is also the dependent preposition (preposition that depends upon or must follow a particular noun, verb, or adjective) after certain verbs such as terminar (to put an end to something), bastar (to be enough or suffice) or comparar (to compare), to name a few. 

Terminar con mi noviazgo no parecía tan complicado.

Ending my relationship didn't seem so complicated.

Caption 61, Los Años Maravillosos - Capítulo 8

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Y me basta con saber que estás allí

And it's enough to know that you're there

Caption 19, Franco De Vita - Mi sueño

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A pesar de que lo... la cultura azteca también

Although the... the Aztec culture also

tenía su preciosismo no se compara con los Mayas...

had its beauty, it can't be compared to the Mayans...

Captions 46-47, Antonio Vargas - Artista - ilustración

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Creating Contrast

Finally, the preposition con can additionally introduce a phrase that stands in contrast to the following clause, taking on a meaning similar to "although" or "despite."

Esta mujer aquí donde la ve,

This woman who stands here before you,

con lo simpática que parece, es como un general.

as nice as she seems, is like a general.

Captions 62-63, Los casos de Yabla - El perrito malcriado

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That's all for this lesson. We hope it has been clear for you and you can now use this preposition con más seguridad y precisión (with greater confidence and accuracy)! And, don't forget to send us your comments and suggestions!