| Additional Translations |
| speak⇒ vi | (express oneself) | expresarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | decir⇒ vtr |
| | Don't keep your opinion to yourself: speak! |
| | No te guardes tu opinión, ¡exprésate! |
| | No te guardes tu opinión, ¡dilo! |
| speak vi | (have the podium) | tomar la palabra loc verb |
| | The president is the next person to speak. |
| | El presidente es el próximo en tomar la palabra. |
| speak vi | (communicate) | hablar⇒ vi |
| | | comunicar⇒ vtr |
| | She really knows how to speak. |
| | Ella sabe cómo hablar. |
| | Ella sabe como comunicar sus ideas. |
| speak vi | (be on good terms) | hablarse⇒ v prnl |
| | The two brothers are not speaking. |
| | Los dos hermanos no se hablan. |
| speak vi | (convey a message) (figurado) | decir⇒ vtr |
| | | demostrarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Actions speak louder than words. |
| | Las acciones dicen mucho más que las palabras. |
| | El movimiento se demuestra andando. |
| speak [sth]⇒ vtr | (tell) | decir⇒ vtr |
| | | contar⇒ vtr |
| | The guilty man decided to speak the truth. |
| | El hombre culpable decidió decir la verdad. |
Locuciones verbales
speak | -speak |
| speak about [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (talk on the subject of) | hablar sobre vi + prep |
| | She was asked to speak about the topic for 30 minutes. |
| | Le pidieron que hable sobre el tema durante 30 minutos. |
| speak about [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (discuss or consult: with [sb]) | discutir con, consultar con vtr + prep |
| speak for [sb] vtr phrasal insep | (talk on behalf of) | hablar por loc verb |
| | | hablar en nombre de loc verb |
| | I think it's a good idea, but I can't speak for anyone else. |
| | Creo que es una buena idea, pero no puedo hablar por los demás. |
| speak of [sth/sb] vtr phrasal insep | formal (talk about [sth], [sb]) | hablar de, hablar sobre vi + prep |
| speak out vi phrasal | (state one's opinion publicly) | expresarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | hablar⇒ vi |
| | Speak out if you're concerned about it. |
| | ¡Exprésate si eso te preocupa! |
| speak out about [sth/sb] vi phrasal + prep | (state one's opinion on) | opinar sobre loc verb |
| | | dar su opinión acerca de loc verb |
| | | manifestarse acerca de, expresarse acerca de loc verb |
| | I don't hear you speaking out about the unfairness of that service fee, so don't complain to me! |
| | No te escucho opinando sobre lo injusta que es esa tarifa, así que no te quejes conmigo. |
| speak out against [sth/sb] vi phrasal + prep | (state one's opposition to) | denunciar⇒ vtr |
| | | manifestar su oposición a loc verb |
| | Many people speak out against domestic violence. |
| | Mucha gente denuncia la violencia doméstica. |
| speak to [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (respond to a question about: [sth]) | hablar de vi + prep |
| | I don't know how severe the damage was, so I can't speak to the cost of repair. |
| | Desconozco la importancia real de los daños, por tanto no puedo hablar del coste de la reparación. |
| speak to [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (give evidence of) | hablar de vi + prep |
| | This book speaks to the experience of being a miner in 1980s Britain. |
| | El libro habla de la experiencia de ser minero en la Gran Bretaña de 1980. |
| speak to [sb] vtr phrasal insep | figurative (resonate with [sb]) | llegarle a vi + prep |
| | | afectar a vtr + prep |
| | This painting on the theme of grief really speaks to me. |
| | Esta pintura de temática dolorosa me llega. |
| speak up vi phrasal | informal (talk more loudly) | hablar más alto loc verb |
| | Please speak up. I can't hear you! |
| | Por favor, habla más alto. ¡No te escucho! |
| | | hablar más fuerte loc verb |
| | Hable más fuerte, desde acá atrás no alcanzamos a escucharlo. |
| speak up vi phrasal | informal, figurative (express an opinion) | decir lo que se piensa loc verb |
| | | dar la opinión de uno loc verb |
| | I always hated to speak up in class, so I got poor grades for oral participation. |
| | Siempre odié decir lo que pensaba en clases así que tuve malas calificaciones por participación oral. |
| speak up for [sb/sth] vtr phrasal insep | informal (defend) | defender⇒ vtr |
| | My big brother spoke up for our sister when Mom was scolding her. |
| | Mi hermano mayor defendió a mi hermana cuando nuestra madre la estaba regañando. |
Compound Forms:
speak | -speak |
| as we speak adv | informal (at this moment) (en este momento) | mientras hablamos, mientras estamos hablando loc adv |
| right to speak n | (law: freedom of speech) | derecho a declarar loc nom m |
| so to speak expr | idiom (using a metaphor) | por así decirlo, por decirlo así, por así decir expr |
| | | por decirlo de algún modo expr |
| | | digamos expr |
| | Failing the test was, so to speak, a kick in the teeth for Jim because he was very disappointed. |
| speak for itself v expr | figurative (be self-evident) (figurado) | hablar por sí mismo loc verb |
| | | ser evidente loc verb |
| | The cause of the accident speaks for itself: someone was careless. |
| | La causa del accidente habla por sí misma, alguien fue descuidado. |
| speak for yourself v expr | informal (that is not my opinion) | hablar por ti loc verb |
| | "I really liked the film." "Speak for yourself!" |
| speak freely v expr | (talk candidly) | hablar libremente loc verb |
| | | hablar sin reservas loc verb |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Puedes hablar sin reservas, José está al tanto de todo. |
| speak highly of v expr | (say good things about) | hablar muy bien de loc verb |
| | | hablar maravillas de loc verb |
| | You come well recommended; Mr. Jones speaks highly of you. |
| | Trae una excelente recomendación; Don Julio habla muy bien de usted. |
| | Vienes muy bien recomendado. Don Julio habla maravillas de ti |
| speak ill of v expr | (say bad things about) | hablar mal de loc verb |
| | (informal) | hablar pestes de loc verb |
| | You should not speak ill of someone when they aren't around. |
| | It's not good to speak ill of the dead. |
| | No deberías hablar mal de alguien cuando no está presente. |
| speak plainly v expr | (give one's honest, direct opinion) | hablar claro loc verb |
| | | hablar sin vueltas, hablar sin rodeos loc verb |
| | She spoke plainly about the problems of gender equality. |
| | He speaks plainly, without fear of offending anyone. |
| | Habló claro sobre los problemas de igualdad de género. |
| speak to [sb] vi + prep | (talk or converse with) | hablar con vi + prep |
| | She would happily speak to strangers at the bus stop. |
| | Le gusta hablar con extraños en el autobús. |
| speak to [sb] vi + prep | (consult) | consultar con vi + prep |
| | | hablar con vi + prep |
| | | pedir la opinión de loc verb + prep |
| | It would be best to speak to your doctor before starting a rigid diet. |
| | Sería mejor que consultaras con tu médico antes de empezar una dieta estricta. |
| speak very highly of [sb] v expr | (say good things about [sb]) | hablar muy bien de alguien loc verb + prep |
| | (informal) | hablar maravillas de alguien loc verb + prep |
| | My son's teacher speaks very highly of him; she says he's a great student. |
| | La profesora de mi hijo habla muy bien de él. Dice que es muy buen alumno. |
| speak volumes v expr | figurative (express or reveal a lot) | decir mucho, decirlo todo, revelar mucho loc verb |
| | Jeff neither confirmed nor denied the accusations, but his silence spoke volumes. |
| speak well for [sth] v expr | figurative (commend) | hablar bien de, dejar en buen lugar loc verb |
| | Your impeccable manners speak well for your upbringing. |
| | Tus impecables modales hablan muy bien de tu educación. |
| speak well of [sb] v expr | (praise) | hablar bien de loc verb |
| | You need your clients to speak well of you to their friends and acquaintances. |
| | Necesitas que tus clientes hablen bien de ti a sus amigos y conocidos. |
| speak with [sb] vi + prep | (talk to, converse with) | hablar con vi + prep |
| | It is always a pleasure to speak with my grandmother. |
| | I would like to speak with you before you go home. |
| | Siempre es un placer hablar con mi abuela. // Me gustaría hablar contigo antes de que te vayas a casa. |
| speak with [sb] vi + prep | (consult) | consultar con vtr + prep |
| | I would like to speak with my accountant before deciding. |
| | | hablar con vi + prep |
| | Quiero hablar con mi contable antes de decidir. |
| speak with a forked tongue v expr | figurative (say [sth] deceitful) | mentir⇒ vi |
| | | engañar⇒ vtr |
speak with your mouth full,
talk with your mouth full v expr | (talk while eating) | hablar con la boca llena loc verb |
| speak your mind v expr | (give your frank opinion) | decir lo que uno piensa, expresar lo que uno piensa loc verb |
| | | expresar su opinión loc verb |
| | The council is holding a public meeting, during which residents can speak their minds on the future of their local secondary school. |
speak your piece,
say your piece v expr | (state opinion) | decir lo suyo loc verb |
| | | decir su opinión loc verb |
| to speak of expr | figurative (nothing meaningful) | hablar de expr |
| Note: Usually in the negative. |