How to say “I’m trying to sound less formal” in Spanish

Introduction

Learning how to sound less formal in Spanish helps you connect with friends, speak more naturally, and understand everyday conversations. This article explains common phrases, informal alternatives, tone adjustments, and cultural tips so you can confidently say I am trying to sound less formal in Spanish and actually sound relaxed and native-like.

Basic translations and quick options

There are several ways to express I am trying to sound less formal in Spanish. Each option varies by region and context. For a straightforward, neutral option, you can say

Estoy tratando de sonar menos formal

This sentence is clear and grammatical. Use it when you want to state your intention in a direct way, for example when explaining to a teacher, language partner, or colleague that you are shifting register.

Other natural options include

Quiero sonar menos formal

Quiero sonar menos formal is slightly stronger — it communicates desire rather than ongoing effort. For everyday conversation with friends, you might prefer softer, more colloquial forms, such as

Estoy intentando hablar más informal

Estoy intentando hablar más informal is very natural in many Spanish-speaking places, though some speakers might prefer an adjective agreement variation like más informal vs de forma más informal. Another casual alternative is

Quiero hablar más relajado

Quiero hablar más relajado uses a common adjective to convey relaxed speech rather than strict formality. Each of these options is useful depending on the situation, so read on to learn nuance and regional flavor.

Breaking down the key phrases

Estoy tratando de sonar menos formal

Estoy tratando de sonar menos formal literally means I am trying to sound less formal. It uses the progressive form Estoy tratando de plus the infinitive sonar. This emphasizes ongoing effort and is appropriate for a learner explaining their goal.

Usage notes: Use this with teachers, language partners, or when describing your own speech to a native speaker. It is polite and clear without being stiff.

Quiero sonar menos formal

Quiero sonar menos formal uses Quiero to express desire. It sounds a bit more decisive. Native speakers may use it to state their aim before trying a different register.

Usage notes: Good when you want to explain your intention before a change. It can come across as more straightforward than the progressive form.

Estoy intentando hablar más informal

Estoy intentando hablar más informal is casual and conversational. It uses intentar rather than tratar de; both are common. Some speakers will prefer to say hablar de forma más informal or hablar más de forma informal for grammatical clarity, but the short form is widely used in spoken Spanish.

Usage notes: This is a good option in informal contexts with friends or when practicing colloquial speech.

Quiero hablar más relajado

Quiero hablar más relajado focuses on the vibe of speech rather than strict register. It implies casualness, warmth, and less formality. It is idiomatic and friendly.

Usage notes: Use this when you want to emphasize sounding natural and relaxed, not just less formal.

Colloquial ways to say it by region

Spanish varies across countries, so here are regional flavors that learners often hear in everyday speech.

Spain

In Spain you might hear people say

Quiero hablar más en plan informal
Quiero hablar más en plan informal

En plan is a popular filler that colors the phrase as casual. Another relaxed version is

Quiero hablar más de tú
Quiero hablar más de tú

This refers to using the informal second-person pronoun tú instead of the formal usted.

Mexico and Central America

In Mexico you might hear

Quiero sonar más casual
Quiero sonar más casual

Casual is widely used and understood. A very colloquial option is

Quiero hablar más chido
Quiero hablar más chido

Chido is slang for cool; use it only with peers or young people.

Argentina, Uruguay

In Rioplatense Spanish people might say

Quiero hablar más como de onda
Quiero hablar más como de onda

De onda communicates a friendly, laid-back style. Also common is replacing vosotros/ustedes dynamics with pronouns and speaking in a more relaxed tone.

Short natural phrases to use in conversation

When you want a quick phrase to switch tone, these are useful:

Hablaré más informal
Hablaré más informal

Voy a hablar de forma más relajada
Voy a hablar de forma más relajada

Voy a hablar como entre amigos
Voy a hablar como entre amigos

These short sentences let you change style mid-conversation and signal your intention to the listener.

How to soften formality without saying it directly

Sometimes you do not need to announce your change in register. Instead, alter verb forms, pronoun choices, and vocabulary:

  • Use tú instead of usted: Say ¿Cómo estás? rather than ¿Cómo está usted?

  • Choose informal greetings like Hola, ¿qué tal? instead of Buenos días, ¿cómo está usted?

  • Use colloquial verbs and fillers: pues, mira, oye, vale, che, or tío depending on region.

  • Prefer contractions and short responses: Sí, claro, claro que sí, or hasta luego rather than more formal farewells.

These small changes will make you sound more relaxed without a direct explanation.

Example dialogues: formal to informal shift

Short dialogues help show how to transition naturally. First, a formal way to start, then a shift to informal speech.

Scenario: You meet a coworker who you want to speak to more casually.

Formal start:
Buenos días, ¿cómo está usted?
Buenos días, ¿cómo está usted?

Shift to informal:
Oye, ¿y tú qué tal? Quiero hablar más relajado contigo.
Oye, ¿y tú qué tal? Quiero hablar más relajado contigo.

This signals the change explicitly while using informal vocabulary like oye and tú.

Tone and body language

How you say something matters. To sound less formal, lower your pitch slightly, use more varied intonation, and avoid overly careful enunciation. Smile, make eye contact, and use relaxed gestures. Native speakers read tone as much as words, so pairing verbal changes with natural body language reinforces the shift.

Common mistakes to avoid

When aiming for informal speech, learners sometimes overdo it or use slang inappropriately. Avoid these pitfalls:

  • Mixing regional slang incorrectly. Slang that works in one country can sound odd or rude in another.

  • Dropping grammar entirely. Informal does not mean ungrammatical — keep verbs and agreement mostly correct.

  • Using overly familiar terms with strangers or older people. When in doubt, ask permission to use tú or say Me gustaría hablar de forma más informal, ¿te parece bien?

Useful follow-up phrases

After saying you are trying to sound less formal, you might need to clarify or ask permission. Use these polite follow-ups:

¿Está bien si te hablo de tú?
¿Está bien si te hablo de tú?

Perdón si sueno raro, estoy intentando hablar más informal
Perdón si sueno raro, estoy intentando hablar más informal

¿Te parece bien si hablamos como amigos?
¿Te parece bien si hablamos como amigos?

These phrases show respect while indicating your wish to be less formal.

Practice tips for learners

To get comfortable with informal Spanish, try these practical steps:

  • Listen to native conversations through podcasts, YouTube vlogs, or TV shows focusing on informal speech.

  • Shadow speakers by repeating colloquial lines aloud to match rhythm and intonation.

  • Practice switching address forms: role-play converting a formal sentence into a casual one.

  • Learn common fillers and discourse markers for the region you are studying, such as pues, oye, mira, tío, che, or vale.

Summary of key expressions

Quick reference to the most useful sentences introduced above:

Estoy tratando de sonar menos formal
Estoy tratando de sonar menos formal

Quiero sonar menos formal
Quiero sonar menos formal

Estoy intentando hablar más informal
Estoy intentando hablar más informal

Quiero hablar más relajado
Quiero hablar más relajado

Conclusion

Shifting to a less formal style in Spanish is a matter of word choice, pronoun use, tone, and cultural sensitivity. Use clear phrases like Estoy tratando de sonar menos formal or Quiero hablar más relajado, adapt slang to the region, and combine verbal changes with relaxed body language. With listening practice and small adjustments, you will sound natural and comfortable in informal conversations.