speak
gb/spˈik/ us/spˈik/
A1
Inglês
~ 400
Aceções
0 aceções
Verbo
A1
action
1
say words using your voice
To use your voice to say words.
Padrão de uso:
to speak [words]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse 'speak' with 'say' or 'tell'. 'Speak' focuses on the act of talking, not on the content or the listener.
Sinónimos
talk (More general and informal; can also include conversation rather than just producing words.)
Antónimos
stay silent (Not producing any spoken words.)
Colocações
speak clearly
|speak loudly
|speak slowly
|speak English
|speak the truth
Temas
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- She speaks three languages fluently.
- Please speak more slowly so everyone can understand.
- I spoke to my neighbor about the noise.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- I speak English at school.
- Please speak slowly.
- She speaks to her teacher every day.
Verbo
A1
action
2
talk with someone
To talk with someone.
Padrão de uso:
to speak to/with [someone]
Erro comum:
Learners may forget to use 'to' or 'with' when indicating the person being addressed.
Sinónimos
converse (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Antónimos
ignore (To deliberately avoid talking to someone.)
Colocações
speak to a friend
|speak with a manager
|speak directly
Temas
communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- I speak to my friend every day.
- He speaks with his boss in the morning.
- She speaks to her mother on the phone.
Verbo
B1
action
3
express an opinion verbally
To say what you think or feel using words.
Padrão de uso:
to speak [about/on] [topic]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'talk about', which is more informal but similar in meaning.
Sinónimos
voice (Often used figuratively for expressing opinions or concerns.)
Antónimos
withhold (To keep an opinion or information to oneself.)
Colocações
speak frankly
|speak openly
|speak honestly
Temas
communication
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- She spoke about the importance of education.
- He spoke in favor of the new policy.
- Several people spoke against the proposal.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- She speaks about her job.
- He speaks about his ideas.
- They speak about the plan.
Verbo
B1
action
4
give a formal address
To talk to a group of people in a formal way.
Padrão de uso:
to speak at [event]
Erro comum:
Learners may confuse this sense with casual 'talk', but here it implies formality and audience focus.
Sinónimos
address (More formal and specifically means speaking to an audience.)
Antónimos
listen (The opposite role in a communication event.)
Colocações
speak at a conference
|speak in public
|speak before an audience
Temas
communication
|public speaking
|work
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- She speaks at school events.
- He speaks at meetings.
- They speak at big parties.
Verbo
A1
action
5
use a specific language to talk
To use a language when you talk.
Padrão de uso:
to speak [language]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use 'talk' instead of 'speak' for languages, but 'speak' is standard when naming a language.
Sinónimos
use (a language) (More general term for applying a language skill.)
Antónimos
remain silent (Not using any language verbally.)
Colocações
speak Spanish
|speak fluently
|speak a foreign language
Temas
communication
|languages
|education
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Do you speak Japanese?
- She speaks French at home and English at work.
- Many people in Switzerland speak several languages.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- I speak Chinese.
- He speaks English very well.
- They speak two languages.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
speak
IPA
GB/spˈik/
US/spˈik/
Sílabas e acento
speak (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (speak)
Formas da palavra
Verb
- Base: speak
- 3rd Person Singular: speaks
- Present Participle: speaking
- Past: spoke
- Past Participle: spoken
Família de palavras
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
Destaques
- Irregular past: spoke Verb
- Irregular past participle: spoken Verb
Expressões
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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.