talk

The word “talk” means to communicate using spoken words. In plain terms, to speak with someone, or (as a noun) a conversation, lecture, or bit of gossip.

“Talk” is pronounced tawk (/tɔk/ in IPA).

Here is “talk” used in a sentence: “We talked for hours about our plans for the future.”

Words with a similar meaning to “talk” include chat, communicate, dictate, klatch, let on and orate.

The opposite of “talk” — its antonyms — is silence.

Depending on how it is used, “talk” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “talk” comes from Middle English. From Middle English talken, related to "tale" and "tell," and ultimately traced back to a root meaning "to count or recount.".

“Talk” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

Talk and speak both mean to say words aloud, but talk is more casual and suggests conversation between people, while speak is slightly more formal and can stress the act of producing speech. You talk with a friend, but you speak to an audience. Speak also fits fixed phrases like speak a language.

Talk refers to the general activity of speaking, often without stating the words: they talked for hours. Say focuses on the specific words spoken: she said hello. You can talk about a subject at length, but you say a particular thing. Say almost always needs an object; talk often does not.

Talk sits comfortably in everyday, informal English and is the natural choice for ordinary conversation. In more formal or ceremonial settings, speak or address is often preferred — a leader addresses a nation rather than talks to it. Still, talk is not slang; it is standard and appropriate in most situations.

You might say, 'Can we talk for a minute?' to request a conversation, or 'They talked about their holiday' to describe one. Talk also appears in common expressions like talk things over, talk sense, or talk someone into something, where it means to persuade through conversation.