speak to sb
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. To say words to someone, either in a conversation or to give them information.
phrasal verb. To address a person verbally. This construction is often used for one-way communication or in more formal contexts than the near-synonym 'talk to'.
I need to speak to the manager.
She waited after class because she wanted to speak to the professor about her grade.
The ambassador requested a private audience to speak to the foreign minister directly, hoping to de-escalate the burgeoning international crisis.
'Speak with' is a common alternative, often implying a more two-sided conversation, especially in American English.
Contrast 'speak to' (often one-way/formal) with 'talk to' (informal/conversational) and 'speak with' (two-way exchange, common in AmE).
I need to speak the manager.I need to speak to the manager.The verb 'speak' requires the preposition 'to' or 'with' before the person being addressed.
Last updated April 24, 2026