SayInLanguage

Travel · Japanese

How to say “do you speak english” in Japanese

Practice this phrase

do you speak english

Japanese · 日本語

polite

Translation

英語を話せますか

Romanization

Eigo o hanasemasu ka

Pronunciation

eh-goh oh hah-nah-seh-mahss kah

When to use it

Use this with staff, locals, drivers, or passersby while traveling. A polite tone is usually the safest choice. In Japanese, tone and relationship matter; when unsure, choose a polite version or soften your delivery.

Example

英語を話せますか — a practical sentence to use when asking for help for "do you speak english".

Same situation

Use these with do you speak english in Japanese

Compare languages

Same phrase in other languages

FAQ

Common questions

How do you say "do you speak english" in Japanese?+

You say "英語を話せますか" in Japanese. The romanized form is "Eigo o hanasemasu ka", and a simple pronunciation cue is "eh-goh oh hah-nah-seh-mahss kah".

Is this phrase formal or casual?+

This entry is marked as polite. The usage note explains when the phrase is appropriate and when you should soften it.

How do you pronounce it?+

Use "eh-goh oh hah-nah-seh-mahss kah" as a learner-friendly pronunciation cue. The romanization is "Eigo o hanasemasu ka".

When should I use it?+

Use this with staff, locals, drivers, or passersby while traveling. A polite tone is usually the safest choice. In Japanese, tone and relationship matter; when unsure, choose a polite version or soften your delivery.