speak
gb/spˈik/ us/spˈik/
A1
English
~ 400
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A1
action
1
say words using your voice
To use your voice to say words.
Usage pattern:
to speak [words]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'speak' with 'say' or 'tell'. 'Speak' focuses on the act of talking, not on the content or the listener.
Synonyms
talk (More general and informal; can also include conversation rather than just producing words.)
Antonyms
stay silent (Not producing any spoken words.)
Collocations
speak clearly
|speak loudly
|speak slowly
|speak English
|speak the truth
Themes
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She speaks three languages fluently.
- Please speak more slowly so everyone can understand.
- I spoke to my neighbor about the noise.
Learner examples
- I speak English at school.
- Please speak slowly.
- She speaks to her teacher every day.
Verb
A1
action
2
talk with someone
To talk with someone.
Usage pattern:
to speak to/with [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may forget to use 'to' or 'with' when indicating the person being addressed.
Synonyms
converse (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately avoid talking to someone.)
Collocations
speak to a friend
|speak with a manager
|speak directly
Themes
communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I need to speak with you about tomorrow's meeting.
- She spoke to the doctor about her symptoms.
- They haven't spoken to each other in years.
Learner examples
- I speak to my friend every day.
- He speaks with his boss in the morning.
- She speaks to her mother on the phone.
Verb
B1
action
3
express an opinion verbally
To say what you think or feel using words.
Usage pattern:
to speak [about/on] [topic]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'talk about', which is more informal but similar in meaning.
Synonyms
voice (Often used figuratively for expressing opinions or concerns.)
Antonyms
withhold (To keep an opinion or information to oneself.)
Collocations
speak frankly
|speak openly
|speak honestly
Themes
communication
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She spoke about the importance of education.
- He spoke in favor of the new policy.
- Several people spoke against the proposal.
Learner examples
- She speaks about her job.
- He speaks about his ideas.
- They speak about the plan.
Verb
B1
action
4
give a formal address
To talk to a group of people in a formal way.
Usage pattern:
to speak at [event]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with casual 'talk', but here it implies formality and audience focus.
Synonyms
address (More formal and specifically means speaking to an audience.)
Antonyms
listen (The opposite role in a communication event.)
Collocations
speak at a conference
|speak in public
|speak before an audience
Themes
communication
|public speaking
|work
Examples
- The president will speak at the opening ceremony.
- She was nervous about speaking in front of so many people.
- He spoke to the crowd for over an hour.
Learner examples
- She speaks at school events.
- He speaks at meetings.
- They speak at big parties.
Verb
A1
action
5
use a specific language to talk
To use a language when you talk.
Usage pattern:
to speak [language]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'talk' instead of 'speak' for languages, but 'speak' is standard when naming a language.
Synonyms
use (a language) (More general term for applying a language skill.)
Antonyms
remain silent (Not using any language verbally.)
Collocations
speak Spanish
|speak fluently
|speak a foreign language
Themes
communication
|languages
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Do you speak Japanese?
- She speaks French at home and English at work.
- Many people in Switzerland speak several languages.
Learner examples
- I speak Chinese.
- He speaks English very well.
- They speak two languages.
Grammar
Dictionary form
speak
IPA
GB/spˈik/
US/spˈik/
Syllables & stress
speak (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (speak)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: speak
- 3rd Person Singular: speaks
- Present Participle: speaking
- Past: spoke
- Past Participle: spoken
Word family
Forms
speaks
verb
speaking
verb
spoke
verb
spoken
verb
Related words
spokesperson
noun B2
outspoken
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
speechless
adjective B1
unspeakable
adjective
Advanced or less common
unspeakably
adverb
Highlights
- Irregular past: spoke Verb
- Irregular past participle: spoken Verb
Expressions
so to speak
1/sˈoʊ tə spˈik/
idiom
'in a manner of speaking' phrase
Used when what you say is not exactly true, but expresses your meaning in another way.
Examples
- We had to fight for our rights, so to speak.
- He's the brains of the operation, so to speak.
speak up
1/spˈik ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
talk louder so others hear you
To talk louder so people can hear you better.
Examples
- Could you speak up? I can't hear you from the back.
- She spoke up so everyone could hear her question.
frankly speaking
1/fɹˈæŋkli spˈikɪŋ/
fixed phrase
'honestly saying' phrase intro
Used before saying something in an honest and direct way.
Examples
- Frankly speaking, I don't think this will work.
- Frankly speaking, you should have been more careful.
frankly speaking
2/fɹˈæŋkli spˈikɪŋ/
fixed phrase
honestly speaking
Used before saying something in a very honest and direct way.
Examples
- Frankly speaking, I don’t trust him.
- Frankly speaking, the project has many problems.
speak of the devil
1/spˈik əv ðə dˈɛvəl/
idiom
informal
'person appears after mention' idiom
Said when someone appears just after you have been talking about them.
Examples
- Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you.
- Speak of the devil—here’s Anna now, just as we were talking about her new job.
- And then, speak of the devil, he walked into the room.
- We were complaining about our boss when, speak of the devil, he walked into the room.