Impersonal se: se habla español
People do it / one does it
By Fabling Editorial · How we design our guides
People do it / one does it
se + 3rd person can mean people in general: Se habla español. Se vive bien aquí. The verb stays singular if there is no plural noun subject.
Examples in context
Read the examples and compare their English meanings.
General Practices & Rules
Use singular verb for general actions.
Se habla español en esta tienda.
Spanish is spoken in this store.
General Lifestyle & Conditions
Describes how people generally experience life.
Se vive muy bien en Madrid.
Life is good in Madrid.
Common mix-ups
In this impersonal construction, use the singular verb habla. Hablan español aquí is also valid with an understood plural subject.
Spanish is spoken here.
Try a reply
Say or write your answer in Spanish before opening the example.
People eat well here. Use impersonal se.
Show one possible answer
Aquí se come bien.
Other wording can work too. Compare the verb form, agreement, and word order with the lesson. Then try a sentence about your own day.
Keep practicing
Related grammar
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