Say, Tell, Speak, Talk: Which One?

Four verbs, one idea — communicating — so learners mix them up constantly. The good news: each one has a clear pattern. Tell usually needs a person when you report information to someone. Say focuses on the words. Speak and talk are about the activity of speaking. Learn the patterns and the fixed phrases, and the choice becomes easier.

Tell — usually tell someone

When you report information to a person, use tell + someone (+ something) — it usually means to give information or instructions. Some fixed phrases with tell do not need a person.

Fixed phrases with tell often do not need a person: tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story, tell a joke, tell the time, tell the difference.

Say — focuses on the words

Use say for the actual words. If you mention the person, you need say + to + someone. In everyday speech, tell + person is usually more natural when the listener is important: She told me the news.

Fixed phrases: say sorry, say yes/no, say a word, say a prayer, say goodbye.

Speak & talk — the activity

Both can mean to use your voice in conversation. Talk is a little more casual; speak is slightly more formal. Use to/with someone and about something. Talk with and speak with are especially common in American English.

Use speak for languages and for formal/one-way speaking.

Speak is the normal verb for languages; talk is not used this way: speak three languages, not talk three languages.

Common mistakes

"Said me" — say doesn't take a person directly.

"Tell" without a person.

"Talk you" — talk and speak need to.

Quick exercise

Fill in say, tell, speak, or talk (change the form if needed).

1. Please ___ me what happened.
2. Did he ___ anything about the meeting?
3. I'd like to ___ to the manager, please.
4. She can ___ four languages.
5. Don't forget to ___ thank you.