What does “speak” mean?
- 1
verbto say words or talk to someone
Can I speak to the manager, please?
- 2
verbto know and use a language
She speaks three languages.
Speak at a glance
- Part of speech
- verb
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /spik/ · SPEEK
- Forms
- spoke, spoken
How to use “speak” correctly
Use “speak” for languages: “speak French”, not “talk French”.
Common phrases with “speak”
- speak to sb
- speak English
- speak up
- generally speaking
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Word family
- speaker
- speech
- spoken
Idioms with “speak”
- Speak of the devil: Said when the person you are talking about appears or calls at that moment.
- Actions speak louder than words: What you actually do shows more about you than what you say.
“speak” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- ask verbA1to say or write a question to get information
- call verbA1to phone someone
- describe verbA1to say or write what someone or something is like
- draw verbA1to make a picture with a pen or pencil
- hear verbA1to notice sounds with your ears
- listen verbA1to pay attention to sounds or to what someone says
- read verbA1to look at written words and understand them
- say verbA1to speak words, or to express a thought or opinion