Say vs Speak: What's the Difference?
What's the Difference?
While "say" focuses on the content of what is spoken, "speak" refers to the act of talking or the language itself.
Memory Tip: say = words matter, speak = action matters
say has long /eɪ/, speak has long /iː/
say
nounThe term "say" as a noun refers to the act of expressing an opinion or making a statement, particularly in contexts where authority or influence is implied, and it often carries connotations of the weight or significance of that expression in discourse or
Example:
She says she likes chocolate, so I will buy some for her.
Common patterns:
have a say
give one's say
say in the matter
say /seɪ/
verbTo say something is to speak or tell it.
Example:
She says she likes chocolate, so I will buy some for her.
Common patterns:
say a word
say hello
speak /spik/
verbTo say words with your mouth.
Example:
Emily is going to speak at the meeting tomorrow, and everyone is excited to hear her ideas.
Common patterns:
speak English
speak to a friend
Common Mistakes
She will say at the conference tomorrow.
She will speak at the conference tomorrow.
"Speak" is used because it refers to the act of talking at the event.
Can you speak me what he told you?
Can you say me what he told you?
"Say" is used because it focuses on the content of what was spoken.
Quick Practice
0/1 correct1. Emily is going to ____ at the meeting tomorrow, and everyone is excited to hear her ideas.
Other Confusing Words
Never confuse say / speak again
Practice confusing word pairs with your daily goal in the Vocab5000 app and learn them for good with a scientifically proven repetition system. Start for free now.
