Meaning
To improve or acquire new abilities and competencies.
Cultural Background
In Spain, there is a strong emphasis on 'formación continua' (continuous training). The government often funds courses for workers to 'desarrollar habilidades digitales'. In the Mexican business world, 'habilidades blandas' (soft skills) are increasingly valued over traditional degrees, reflecting a shift toward North American corporate culture. Argentina has a rich tradition of psychological and pedagogical study. The phrase is often used in the context of 'desarrollo infantil' (child development). Colombia's 'SENA' (National Learning Service) is a famous institution dedicated entirely to helping citizens 'desarrollar habilidades técnicas' for free.
Use Adjectives
Always pair 'habilidades' with an adjective (sociales, técnicas, comunicativas) to sound more like a native speaker.
Silent H
Never pronounce the 'h' in 'habilidades'. It's 'ah-bi-li-da-des', not 'ha-bi-li-da-des'.
Meaning
To improve or acquire new abilities and competencies.
Use Adjectives
Always pair 'habilidades' with an adjective (sociales, técnicas, comunicativas) to sound more like a native speaker.
Silent H
Never pronounce the 'h' in 'habilidades'. It's 'ah-bi-li-da-des', not 'ha-bi-li-da-des'.
LinkedIn Ready
This is the #1 phrase to use on your Spanish LinkedIn profile to attract recruiters.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'desarrollar'.
Para conseguir el trabajo, yo necesito ________ mis habilidades de Excel.
After 'necesito', we use the infinitive form.
Which adjective best fits 'habilidades' in a job interview context?
Quiero desarrollar mis habilidades ________.
'Profesionales' is the most appropriate adjective for a career context.
Match the skill type with its Spanish name.
Match the following:
These are the most common collocations with 'habilidades'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ¿Por qué tomas clases de piano? B: Porque quiero ________ mis habilidades musicales.
'Desarrollar' is the correct verb for improving a talent or skill.
Match the sentence to the correct register.
Sentence: 'Es vital desarrollar habilidades cognitivas.'
The use of 'vital' and 'cognitivas' indicates a formal/academic register.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Dónde desarrollar habilidades
Trabajo
- • Gestión
- • Ventas
- • Análisis
Vida
- • Cocina
- • Deporte
- • Arte
Practice Bank
5 exercisesPara conseguir el trabajo, yo necesito ________ mis habilidades de Excel.
After 'necesito', we use the infinitive form.
Quiero desarrollar mis habilidades ________.
'Profesionales' is the most appropriate adjective for a career context.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the most common collocations with 'habilidades'.
A: ¿Por qué tomas clases de piano? B: Porque quiero ________ mis habilidades musicales.
'Desarrollar' is the correct verb for improving a talent or skill.
Sentence: 'Es vital desarrollar habilidades cognitivas.'
The use of 'vital' and 'cognitivas' indicates a formal/academic register.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsA little bit. With friends, you might say 'estoy aprendiendo' or 'estoy mejorando en...', but it's not 'wrong' to use it.
Yes! It's a very common and beautiful way to talk about personal growth.
'Habilidad' is general. 'Destreza' is usually for manual or physical precision (like playing an instrument).
The most common translation is 'habilidades blandas'.
It can be ('desarrollarse'), but when you have an object like 'habilidades', you use the normal form: 'Yo desarrollo habilidades'.
Absolutely. 'Desarrollar habilidades atléticas' is very common in sports journalism.
Yes, you can 'desarrollar habilidades lingüísticas'.
You could say 'perder la práctica' (to lose the practice) or 'atrofiarse' (to atrophy).
Both work! 'Habilidades de comunicación' (skills OF communication) or 'Habilidades para la vida' (skills FOR life).
Yes, 'mejorar habilidades' is a perfect synonym and slightly less formal.
Related Phrases
Adquirir conocimientos
similarTo gain knowledge
Poner en práctica
builds onTo put into practice
Tener madera de
contrastTo have the 'stuff' or natural talent for something
Estar oxidado
contrastTo be 'rusty'
Habilidades blandas
specialized formSoft skills
