Question
I’m currently studying in Japan and find it challenging to make new friends due to the language barrier. I would like to ask if someone speaks English when starting a conversation. How do I ask “Do you speak English?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
英語（えいご）を話（はな）せますか。
Eego o hanasemasu ka?
Do you speak English?
This phrase is quite handy when you’re trying to communicate with someone and aren’t sure if they understand English. Here, “eego” means “English,” “hanasemasu” is the potential form of the verb “hanasu” (to speak), and “ka” at the end of the sentence makes it a question.
Using this question at the beginning of your interactions can help you determine whether you can continue in English or need to switch to Japanese or another language. Remember, even if the person can’t speak English, they might appreciate your effort to communicate in Japanese!
