talk
tawk
Talk (verb) means to communicate using spoken words. Example: “We talked for hours about our plans for the future.”
verb
1
To communicate using spoken words.
"We talked for hours about our plans for the future."
"Can we talk in private for a minute?"
"Babies start to talk at different ages, and that is normal."
2
To discuss a particular subject.
"The board talked business over lunch."
"The two neighbours talked football over the garden fence."
"At the meeting we talked about holiday rotas and office space."
noun
1
A conversation, discussion, or informal speech.
"She gave a talk on climate change at the conference."
"They had a serious talk about money."
"I had a quick talk with my manager before leaving."
2
Rumor or gossip circulating about someone or something.
"There's talk of layoffs coming next month."
"There was a lot of talk in the village about the empty shop."
"Try not to pay attention to idle talk about your neighbours."
How to use talk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo speak with someone, or (as a noun) a conversation, lecture, or bit of gossip.
Common mistake
"Talk to" someone often implies one-directional speaking, while "talk with" suggests a two-way conversation — the distinction is subtle and both are widely used interchangeably.
Common pairings
talk to someone
small talk
give a talk
talk of the town
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Word forms
- Plural
- talks
- Third person singular
- talks
- Past tense
- talked
- Archaic forms
- talkest, talkedst, talketh
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We _____ for hours about our plans for the future.
Etymology
From Middle English talken, related to "tale" and "tell," and ultimately traced back to a root meaning "to count or recount."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for talk
See all rhymes for talk →Frequently asked questions
What does “talk” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “talk”?
“Talk” is pronounced tawk (/tɔk/ in IPA).
How do you use “talk” in a sentence?
Here is “talk” used in a sentence: “We talked for hours about our plans for the future.”
What is another word for “talk”?
Words with a similar meaning to “talk” include chat, communicate, dictate, klatch, let on and orate.
What is the opposite of “talk”?
The opposite of “talk” — its antonyms — is silence.
What part of speech is “talk”?
Depending on how it is used, “talk” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “talk” come from?
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.".
Is “talk” a common word?
“Talk” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between talk and speak?
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.
What is the difference between talk and say?
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.
Is talk formal or informal?
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.
What is an example of talk?
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.
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