A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "I don't speak spanish well" in Italian
Say 'I don't speak Spanish well' in Italian to manage expectations when speaking with locals.
Non parlo bene spagnolo.
non PA-ro BBE-neh spa-NYO-loneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when someone mistakenly assumes you speak Spanish, perhaps because you're in a region with historical ties to Spain or if your appearance suggests it. It's a polite way to correct their assumption and signal you'll be speaking Italian.
Alternatives
- Parlo poco spagnolo.Use this if you mean you only know a few words.
- Non sono fluente in spagnolo.This sounds a bit more formal and precise.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'spagnolo' with 'inglese'
Make sure you're saying 'spagnolo' for Spanish, not 'inglese' for English.
Pronouncing 'parlo' as 'par-LO'
The stress is on the first syllable: 'PA-ro'.
A small cultural note
Italians are generally very understanding if you struggle with a language, so don't be afraid to try. They'll often switch to English if they can, or help you out with Italian.
Frequently asked
How to say I speak a little Spanish in Italian?
You can say 'Parlo poco spagnolo.' This means 'I speak little Spanish' and is a good alternative if you know a few words.
What if they think I speak Spanish and I don't speak Italian either?
This is a tricky one! You might try 'Non parlo bene spagnolo, e non parlo bene italiano.' (I don't speak Spanish well, and I don't speak Italian well.)
Is it rude to say you don't speak a language well?
Not at all, especially with 'Non parlo bene spagnolo.' It's a polite way to set expectations and avoid confusion.
