Speak

Definition: Speak

Speak

Verb

1. Express in speech; "She talks a lot of nonsense".

2. Exchange thoughts; talk with; "We often talk business"; also used metaphorically: "Actions talk louder than words".

3. Use language: "the baby talks already"; "the prisoner won't speak"; "they speak a strange dialect".

4. Give a speech to; "The chairman addressed the board of trustees".

5. Make a characteristic or natural sound; "The drums spoke".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "speak" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references)

Multilingual Slang

Slang in 1811

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

SPEAK

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

Synonyms: Speak

Crosswords: Speak

Pidgin English (to speak).

I'm an educated man, but I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago (A Few Good Men; writing credit: Aaron Sorkin)

I was the only one that could speak for them, and for the children we were (Sleepers; writing credit: Barry Levinson)

Our job was to select someone who could speak for everybody (Contact; writing credit: Carl Sagan;)

I speak simple English, I don't have an accent as far as I can tell (The Lost World: Jurassic Park; writing credit: David Koepp)

Speak quickly (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers; writing credit: Frances Walsh)

Don't speak, don't speak, don't speak, oh (Don't Speak; performing artist: No Doubt)

Speak to me, don't mislead me, the calm I feel means a storm is swelling; (Trouble Me; performing artist: 10,000 Maniacs)

Speak your heart, Don't bite your tongue (We Need A Resolution; performing artist: Aaliyah)

Oh I'll speak my Southern English just as natural as I please ("My Home's in Alabama"; performing artist: Alabama)

Does she speak eloquently (You Oughta Know; performing artist: Alanis Morissette)

Welcome to America… Now speak English. (references; author: unknown)

Texas: Si, Hablo Ingles (Yes, I Speak English) (references; author: unknown)

In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak. (references; author: unknown)

Your actions speak so loud that I can't hear what you're saying. (references; author: unknown)

Kindness: A language the deaf can hear, the blind can see, and the mute can speak. (references; author: unknown)

To Speak or Not to Speak (1970)

Let Me Speak (1964)

Speak for Yourself Mean Moe (1963)

When False Tongues Speak (1917)

Speak No Evil (1914)

Don't Speak (performing artist: No Doubt)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Books

• How to Speak Southern (reference)

• Signing: How to Speak With Your Hands (reference)

• The Art of Speedreading People: How to Size People Up and Speak Their Language (reference)

  (more book examples)

Periodicals

• Speak! (reference)

  (more periodical examples)

Theater & Movies

• S.O.D.: Speak English Or Live (reference)

• The Standard Deviants - Habla Espanol? Beyond the Basics (Learn to Speak Spanish) (reference)

• The Kennedy Center Presents - Speak Truth to Power (reference)

  (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Music

• No Wings to Speak of (reference)

• Speak Life (reference)

• Speak Low (reference)

  (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

High Tech

• Learn to Speak German 8.1 (2002) (reference)

  (more camera examples; more video game examples; more computer examples; more electronic examples; more software examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

[A blind and deaf Chinese girl is learning to speak English] / WHO p. Credit: National Library of Medicine; photo by J. Morgenstern..

Speak Up America : Talk About Perscriptions / Design: Berns & Kay, Ltd. Illustration: Kathleen Carson. Credit: National Library of Medicine.

Speak out, or git out, one or t'other. Credit: Library of Congress.

Good morning, Judge Priest, could I speak with you in private a minute?. Credit: Library of Congress.

Speak to me!. Credit: Library of Congress.

Billy Mason receives an invitation to speak from the Minnesota G.O.P. Elephant. Credit: Library of Congress.

"Speak softly and carry a big stick" / Herblock. Credit: Library of Congress.

Crowd of Puerto Ricans gather to hear former Secretary of State Henry A. Wallace speak. Credit: Library of Congress.

Group of residents of Weatherford, Texas, listening to politician speak. Credit: Library of Congress.

Mexican miner's wife. She doesn't speak English. Scotts Run, Bertha Hill, West Virginia. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

I say peaceful, because I shall have occasion in another place to speak of conquest, which some esteem a way of beginning of governments. (Second Treatise of Government)

Our bourgeois, not content with having the wives and daughters of their proletarians at their disposal, not to speak of common prostitutes, take the greatest pleasure in seducing each other's wives. (reference)

Advisers shall not speak except on a request made by the Delegate whom they accompany and by the special authorisation of the President of the Conference, and may not vote. (reference)

Let me, however, make it clear that I have no official mission or status of any kind, and that I speak only for myself. ("Iron Curtain" Speech)

The privilege against self-incrimination, which has had a long and expansive historical development, is the essential mainstay of our adversary system, and guarantees to the individual the "right to remain silent unless he chooses to speak in the unfettered exercise of his own will," during a period of custodial interrogation as well as in the courts or during the course of other official investigations. (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

I know enough of music to speak decidedly on that point

Now open your mouth and speak.

Speak out plain

It is scarcely decorous, however, to speak all, even where we speak impersonally

Let them bring her to me now, and I will just speak to her very gently

He began to speak in a quiet tone

How darkly and how deadly dost thou speak! Your eyes do menace me.

Joad opened his mouth to speak.

I must then hire another to defend my right, it being against all rules of law that any man should be allowed to speak for himself

I speak of fishing only now, for I had long felt differently about fowling, and sold my gun before I went to the woods

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

Turns head to you when you speak. (references)

Speak slowly and in a relaxed manner. (references)

Ask people to speak louder, but not shout. (references)

Business

About 77 percent of the population speak English. (references)

Many travel regularly to the United States and speak English. (references)

The other emirates, with no oil to speak of, rely heavily on federal funds. (references)

Children

Sierra Leone

These groups generally all speak distinct primary languages and are concentrated outside urban areas. (references)

Yugoslavia

Due to this lack of primary schooling, many Romani children do not learn to speak Serbian, and there is no instruction available in the Romani language. (references)

Cameroon

On September 10, several blind persons blocked the road junction in Yaounde between the Ministry of Education and the Prime Minister's office and asked to speak to the Prime Minister about the eviction of several blind persons from a building in which they were living illegally. (references)

Civil Liberties

Seychelles

In most instances, citizens speak freely, including in Parliament. (references)

Hong Kong

Persons speak freely to the media, and many use the media to voice their views. (references)

Singapore

Academics speak and publish widely, and engage in debate on social and political issues. (references)

Economic History

Guatemala

Many speak English. (references)

Estonia

Most people also speak Russian. (references)

Lithuania

A minority speak Russian and Polish. (references)

Human Rights

Ireland

However, the accused may not be convicted based solely on a refusal to speak. (references)

Greece

Defendants who do not speak Greek have the right to a court-appointed interpreter. (references)

Qatar

In such cases, lawyers prepare the litigants and speak for them during the hearing. (references)

Indigenous People

Guatemala

Many indigenous people are illiterate or do not speak Spanish. (references)

El Salvador

In reality, very few persons speak the indigenous language of Nahuatl. (references)

Mexico

According to a 2000 World Bank report, approximately 808,100 individuals speak only an indigenous language. (references)

Minorities

Moldova

The Gagauz speak Russian and Gagauz, a Turkic language. (references)

Nepal

The country has over 75 ethnic groups that speak 50 different languages. (references)

Lesotho

Most citizens speak a common language and share common historical and cultural traditions. (references)

Political Economy

Costa Rica

Many Costa Rican speak excellent American English. (references)

Singapore

A Speakers' Corner continued to provide a public forum for persons to speak on a range of issues. (references)

Singapore

However, government restrictions on persons wishing to use it inhibited their ability to speak freely. (references)

Political Rights

Botswana

The paper is expected to be considered by the Parliament in 2002. Members of the National Assembly are required to speak English. (references)

Egypt

Muslim Brotherhood members are known as such publicly and openly speak their views, although they do not explicitly identify themselves as members of the organization. (references)

Greece

While citizens exercised their political rights, there occasionally were charges that the Government limits the right of some individuals, particularly Muslims and Slavo-Macedonians, to speak publicly and associate freely on the basis of their self-proclaimed ethnic identity. (references)

Trade

Nigeria

Consequently, preference shareholders are entitled to receive notices and attend all general meetings of the company and may speak and vote on any resolution before the meeting. (references)

Travel

West Bank

All Palestinians speak Arabic. (references)

Venezuela

Many executives speak English. (references)

Women

Malawi

Women usually are at a disadvantage in marriage, family, and property rights, but they have begun to speak out against abuse and discrimination. (references)

Pakistan

Federal Ministers, especially the Minister for Women's Development, have continued to speak out against "honor killings" at public seminars and symposiums. (references)

Czech Republic

Gender studies experts reported that women were ashamed to report rape or speak about it, and that the police were not equipped to help, either by attitude or training. (references)

Worker Rights

Korea

Many such women, unable to speak Chinese, are held as virtual prisoners. (references)

Lithuania

She was the first victim to sue the traffickers and to speak out about the problem in public. (references)

Egypt

They speak vigorously on behalf of worker concerns, but public confrontations between the ETUF and the Government are rare. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Expressions using "speak": actions speak louder than words ♦ as we speak ♦ ask permission to speak ♦ cause to speak ♦ dare to speak ♦ do you speak english? ♦ feel afraid to speak ♦ get to speak to ♦ hard to speak ♦ how dare you speak like this? ♦ i do not speak english ♦ i don't speak english ♦ i don't speak spanish ♦ induce to speak ♦ it is nothing to speak of ♦ it would be below my dignity to speak to him ♦ it's nothing to speak of ♦ may i speak to ..? ♦ may i speak with ..? ♦ not speak well of ♦ nothing to speak of ♦ permission to speak ♦ please do not speak to the driver! ♦ sea speak ♦ so to speak ♦ speak a foreign language ♦ speak a ship ♦ speak against ♦ speak against one's convictions ♦ speak albanian ♦ speak amiss of ♦ speak aside ♦ speak at length ♦ speak away! ♦ speak badly ♦ speak badly of smb. ♦ speak below one's breath ♦ speak bluntly ♦ speak broadly ♦ speak broken language ♦ speak by signs ♦ speak dagger ♦ speak dialect ♦ speak earnestly ♦ speak evil of ♦ speak excellent english ♦ speak fair to ♦ speak figuratively ♦ speak flatteringly ♦ speak fluent english ♦ speak fluently ♦ speak for ♦ speak for itself ♦ speak for oneself ♦ speak for smb. ♦ speak frankly ♦ speak french ♦ speak good english ♦ speak harshly ♦ speak hesitantly ♦ speak highly of smb. ♦ speak ill ♦ speak ill of ♦ speak ill of behind one's back ♦ speak ill of smb. ♦ speak in ♦ speak in a debate ♦ speak in a low key ♦ speak in a low voice ♦ speak in a whisper ♦ speak in anger ♦ speak in debate ♦ speak in dialect ♦ speak in low voice ♦ speak in measured tones ♦ speak in parables ♦ speak in praise of smb. ♦ speak in public ♦ speak in riddles ♦ speak in smb.'s ear ♦ speak in subdued voice ♦ speak in tongues ♦ speak ironically ♦ speak less and do more ♦ speak like by the book ♦ speak louder please! ♦ speak of ♦ speak of dirt ♦ speak of the devil ♦ speak off the cuff ♦ speak on behalf of ♦ speak on behalf of smb. ♦ speak ones mind ♦ speak one's mind ♦ speak one's piece ♦ speak one's thoughts ♦ speak out ♦ speak out of turn ♦ speak out! ♦ speak patois ♦ speak pompously. Additional references.

Beginning with "speak": speak-do, speak-easy, speak-now-think-later, speak-up, speak-ups, speak-when, speak-your-weight.

Ending with "speak": double-speak.

Afrikaans

praat (talk), gesels (talk). (various references)

Albanian

flas (discourse, hold forth, palaver, say, talk). (various references)

Arabic 

‏همس (breathe, buzz, hiss, murmur, susurration, whisper, whispering), ‏نطق بلسان, ‏ناقش مع, ‏ناقش (agitate, argue, bat, canvass, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, join issue with, moot, oppugn, powwow, question, set about, talk, talk over, ventilate), ‏قال (go, said, say, state, talk, tell, told, utter), ‏تكلم (bleat, mouth, say, spoke, tongue), ‏تحدث (broadcast, converse, discourse, jaw, sing out, talk, tell, yarn), ‏سأل (ask, beg, call, call on, enquire, inquire, question, quiz, request, shout), ‏خطب (affiance, contract, declaim, deliver, harangue, jaw, make a speech, speechify), ‏دل (announce, betoken, bode, denote, designate, indicate, infer, proclaim, promise, read, signify). (various references)

Aymara

arsuña (to speak). (various references)

Basque

mintzatu (speak to). (various references)

Blackfoot

yáápíí'poyi (to speak English), iitsi'poyi (to speak Blackfoot). (various references)

Breton

komzit. (various references)

Bulgarian 

свидетелствувам за (bear witness to, denote, indicate, register), разговарям (have a talk, talk), разменям сигнали, гърмя (bang, bellow, boom, fulminate, peal, pop off, roll, thunder), говоря за (purport, speak of, talk about, talk of), говоря (converse, harangue, parley, reflect, shoot, slur, talk, vocalize), лая по заповед, приказвам (jaw, natter, prattle, shoot, talk), изказвам се (express oneself, have one's say, pronounce, speak up). (various references)

Catalan

parlo, parlar (talk, to speak). (various references)

Chinese 

讲话 (speaking, speech, spoken). (various references)

Croatian

govoriti, govorite, govorim, govori. (various references)

Czech

mluvit (talk, to speak). (various references)

Danish

tale (speech, talk). (various references)

Dutch

spreken (speaking, speech, talk), praten (chat, chatter, talk). (various references)

Esperanto

paroli (talk). (various references)

Estonian

rääkida, räägite, räägin, räägi. (various references)

Faeroese

tosa (chat, chatter, talk), tala (speech, talk). (various references)

Farsi 

گفتگوکردن (Argue, Communicate, Discuss, Negotiate), حرف زدن (Say, Talk), تکلم کردن , سخنرانی کردن (Discourse, Lecture, Lobby), سخن گفتن (Address, Discourse, Say), صحبت کردن (Cant), دراییدن . (various references)

Finnish

puhua (say, talk, to speak). (various references)

Flemish

spreken, spreekt, spreek. (various references)

French