speak
gb/spˈik/ us/spˈik/
A1
Inglés
~ 400
beszél, beszél valakivel, beszélget, beszél valamiről, felszólal, beszédet mond
VERBO
A1
1
beszél
A1
Patrón de uso:
to speak [words]
She speaks three languages fluently.
Három nyelven beszél folyékonyan.
Please speak more slowly so everyone can understand.
Kérlek, beszélj lassabban, hogy mindenki megértse.
I spoke to my neighbor about the noise.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
I speak English at school.
Az iskolában angolul beszélek.
Please speak slowly.
Kérlek, beszélj lassan.
She speaks to her teacher every day.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse 'speak' with 'say' or 'tell'. 'Speak' focuses on the act of talking, not on the content or the listener.
Significado
say words using your voice
Colocaciones
speak clearly
|speak loudly
|speak slowly
|speak English
|speak the truth
Sinónimos
talk (More general and informal; can also include conversation rather than just producing words.)
Antónimos
stay silent (Not producing any spoken words.)
Temas
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definición
To use your voice to say words.
To use your voice to say words so that others can hear them.
VERBO
A1
2
beszélget
A2
Patrón de uso:
to speak to/with [someone]
I need to speak with you about tomorrow's meeting.
Beszélnem kell veled a holnapi megbeszélésről.
She spoke to the doctor about her symptoms.
Beszélt az orvossal a tüneteiről.
They haven't spoken to each other in years.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
I speak to my friend every day.
Minden nap beszélek a barátommal.
He speaks with his boss in the morning.
Reggelente beszél a főnökével.
She speaks to her mother on the phone.
Error frecuente:
Learners may forget to use 'to' or 'with' when indicating the person being addressed.
Significado
talk with someone
Colocaciones
speak to a friend
|speak with a manager
|speak directly
Sinónimos
converse (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Antónimos
ignore (To deliberately avoid talking to someone.)
Temas
communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definición
To talk with someone.
To talk or converse with someone, especially for a purpose or exchange of information.
VERBO
B1
3
felszólal
B2
Patrón de uso:
to speak [about/on] [topic]
She spoke about the importance of education.
Az oktatás fontosságáról beszélt.
He spoke in favor of the new policy.
Az új irányelv mellett szólalt fel.
Several people spoke against the proposal.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
She speaks about her job.
A munkájáról beszél.
He speaks about his ideas.
Az ötleteiről beszél.
They speak about the plan.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'talk about', which is more informal but similar in meaning.
Significado
express an opinion verbally
Colocaciones
speak frankly
|speak openly
|speak honestly
Sinónimos
voice (Often used figuratively for expressing opinions or concerns.)
Antónimos
withhold (To keep an opinion or information to oneself.)
Temas
communication
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
Definición
To say what you think or feel using words.
To express an idea, opinion, or feeling using spoken words.
VERBO
B1
4
felszólal
B2
Patrón de uso:
to speak at [event]
The president will speak at the opening ceremony.
Az elnök beszédet mond a megnyitó ünnepségen.
She was nervous about speaking in front of so many people.
Ideges volt, hogy ennyi ember előtt kell beszélnie.
He spoke to the crowd for over an hour.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
She speaks at school events.
Iskolai rendezvényeken beszédet mond.
He speaks at meetings.
Értekezleteken felszólal.
They speak at big parties.
Error frecuente:
Learners may confuse this sense with casual 'talk', but here it implies formality and audience focus.
Significado
give a formal address
Colocaciones
speak at a conference
|speak in public
|speak before an audience
Sinónimos
address (More formal and specifically means speaking to an audience.)
Antónimos
listen (The opposite role in a communication event.)
Temas
communication
|public speaking
|work
Definición
To talk to a group of people in a formal way.
To address an audience formally, often as part of a meeting, conference, or event.
VERBO
A1
5
beszél
A1
Patrón de uso:
to speak [language]
Do you speak Japanese?
Beszélsz japánul?
She speaks French at home and English at work.
Otthon franciául beszél, a munkahelyén pedig angolul.
Many people in Switzerland speak several languages.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
I speak Chinese.
Kínaiul beszélek.
He speaks English very well.
Nagyon jól beszél angolul.
They speak two languages.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use 'talk' instead of 'speak' for languages, but 'speak' is standard when naming a language.
Significado
use a specific language to talk
Colocaciones
speak Spanish
|speak fluently
|speak a foreign language
Sinónimos
use (a language) (More general term for applying a language skill.)
Antónimos
remain silent (Not using any language verbally.)
Temas
communication
|languages
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definición
To use a language when you talk.
To use a particular language when talking.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
speak
AFI
GB/spˈik/
US/spˈik/
Sílabas y acento
speak (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (speak)
Formas de la palabra
Verb
- Base: speak
- 3rd Person Singular: speaks
- Present Participle: speaking
- Past: spoke
- Past Participle: spoken
Familia de palabras
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
Aspectos destacados
- Irregular past: spoke Verb
- Irregular past participle: spoken Verb
Expresiones
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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.