Say / Tell / Speak / Talk – What’s the Difference?
Many English learners find it confusing to use say, tell, speak, and talk correctly. They all describe communication, but each word is used in a different way. In this post, we’ll explore their meanings, uses, and common mistakes. By the end, you’ll know when and how to use each one in natural English conversations!
Say
Say is used when we focus on the words that someone spoke. We often mention what was said, but we do not always say who the listener was. If we do mention the listener, we usually use the word “to.”
Examples:
• “She said she was tired.”
• “What did he say?”
• “They said the meeting was cancelled.”
• “He said hello to me.” (“to me” shows who he spoke to.)
Common mistake:
❌ “He said me he was tired.” → Incorrect
✔️ “He said he was tired.” → Correct
Tell
Tell is used when you give information to someone. It almost always needs an object (like a listener), meaning you need to mention who you are telling. We often use tell for giving instructions, stories, or important information.
Examples:
• “She told me she was tired.”
• “Can you tell him the time of the meeting?”
• “He told a funny story.”
• “My teacher told us to be quiet.”
Common mistake:
❌ “She told about the problem.” → Incorrect
✔️ “She told me about the problem.” → Correct
Speak
Speak is used more commonly in formal situations. It often describes the act of talking, rather than what is being said. We use speak when talking about languages or formal conversations, such as in meetings or presentations.
Examples:
• “He spoke to the manager about the problem.”
• “She speaks three languages.”
• “May I speak with you for a moment?”
• “They spoke quietly in the library.”
Common mistake:
❌ “She speaks me that she loves jazz.” → Incorrect
✔️ “She spoke about the problem in her presentation.” → Correct (formal setting)
Talk
Talk is used more commonly in informal conversations. It often describes two or more people having a discussion. We commonly use talk about when mentioning the topic.
Examples:
• “We talked about our weekend plans.”
• “He likes to talk to his friends after work.”
• “Can we talk later?”
• “They were talking quietly on the train.”
Common mistake:
❌ “She talks English very well.” → Incorrect
✔️ “She talks about her dog a lot.” → Correct
Common Phrases with Each Word
Here are some typical phrases you might hear:
Say:
“Say hello.”
“Say sorry.”
“Say a few words.”
Tell:
“Tell the truth.”
“Tell a lie.”
“Tell a story.”
Speak:
“Speak clearly.”
“Speak your mind.”
“Speak a language.”
Talk:
“Talk nonsense.”
“Talk business.”
“Talk sense.”
Practice
Choose the correct word: say, tell, speak, or talk.
1. Can you ______ me the time?
2. She ______ three languages fluently.
3. He ______ he was going to be late.
4. They ______ about their holiday plans last night.
5. I need to ______ to the manager about my schedule.
6. Don’t forget to ______ thank you before you leave.
7. He ______ us an interesting story about his travels.
Quick Summary
• Use say when you are reporting someone’s exact words. You can mention what was said, and sometimes to whom.
• “She said she was tired.”
• Use tell when you are giving information to someone. It almost always needs a listener.
• “She told me she was tired.”
• Use speak in formal situations, or when describing the ability to use a language.
• “She speaks English fluently.”
• Use talk for informal conversations or discussions.
• “We talked about the movie.”
Learning how to use these words correctly will make your English clearer and more natural. Practice them in your conversations and writing to build confidence!
Answers:
tell
speaks
said
talked/spoke (talked is preferable because it is informal)
talk/speak (speak is preferable because it is formal)
say
told