Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[organica]

Would you explain the differences between say, tell, talk, and speak in a nutshell? Thank you very much.

[CP]

When I use words to express myself orally (using my mouth, as opposed to in writing), I talk and I speak. I can talk with / speak with / converse with you; I can talk to / speak to / address a group; I can talk about / speak about / discuss topics, etc.

When I talk / speak, I am saying words. You might hear what I say and then tell someone else, that is, you might relate what I said to someone else. When I am talking with you, when we are speaking together, I might say something funny, and then you would tell your sister what I said, and she might say, "What rubbish!"
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb