# speak to sb

CEFR A1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/speak-to-sb
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

To say words to someone, either in a conversation or to give them information.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need to speak the manager." but "I need to speak to the manager." — The verb 'speak' requires the preposition 'to' or 'with' before the person being addressed.

## Usage notes

- 'Speak with' is a common alternative, often implying a more two-sided conversation, especially in American English.
- Teaching tip: Contrast 'speak to' (often one-way/formal) with 'talk to' (informal/conversational) and 'speak with' (two-way exchange, common in AmE).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.