Dictionary / Japanese / Do you speak English?
How to Say "Do you speak English?" in Japanese
英語を話せますか
eigo o hanasemasu ka
Literally: Can (you) speak English?
英語
English (the language)
を
(object marker, said o)
話せます
can speak (polite)
か
(question marker)
Polite or casual
Casual英語、話せる？ (eigo, hanaseru?)
英語を話せますか is polite and fine with strangers, shop staff and station staff. Start with すみません (sumimasen), excuse me, to sound gentle. You will also hear 英語が話せますか (eigo ga hanasemasu ka). With the "can" form 話せます, both を and が are used, so either is fine. With friends, 英語、話せる？ is normal. If they answer 少しだけ (sukoshi dake), only a little, keep your English short and slow, or show the words on your phone.
Correct
英語を話せますか
What people say wrong
英語を話しますか
Do you speak English (as a habit)? It will be understood, but it asks what someone usually does, not whether they can.
The mistake to avoid. English uses "do you speak" to mean "can you speak", so learners often say 英語を話しますか (eigo o hanashimasu ka). 話します is the plain polite verb, and the question sounds like you are asking whether they speak English in daily life, at home or at work. When you need help in English, you are really asking about ability, so use the "can" form 話せます (hanasemasu). Leave out あなたは (anata wa), you, too. It is clear who you are asking, and starting with あなた can sound blunt.
In context
すみません、英語を話せますか。
Sumimasen, eigo o hanasemasu ka.
Excuse me, do you speak English?
英語が話せる人はいますか。
Eigo ga hanaseru hito wa imasu ka.
Is there anyone who speaks English?
日本語はまだ少ししか話せません。
Nihongo wa mada sukoshi shika hanasemasen.
I can only speak a little Japanese so far.