talk

Q: What does "talk" mean?

1. (to speak) to say words to someone to share information or feelings. 2. (to discuss) to discuss a specific topic. 3. (to confess) to give information to the police or an enemy, often about other people. 4. (a conversation) a conversation between two or more people, often about something important. 5. (a lecture) a short speech or presentation given to a group of people. 6. (gossip) rumours or stories that people are telling about someone. 7. (empty words) promises or claims that someone makes but does not actually do.

Q: Is it correct to say "I need to talk you about the project."?

No — say "I need to talk to you about the project.". In most contexts, 'talk' requires the preposition 'to' or 'with' before the person you are speaking to.

Word

01to speak

A1 · Beginner

v. to say words to someone to share information or feelings.

v. to communicate by means of spoken language. Intransitive, though often followed by 'to' or 'with'.

“We sat in the park and talked for hours about our summer plans.”

“The diplomats talked for several hours behind closed doors, attempting to find common ground before the official summit began.”

Pitfall

I need to talk you about the project.

I need to talk to you about the project.

In most contexts, 'talk' requires the preposition 'to' or 'with' before the person you are speaking to.

Synonyms

speak chat converse

Antonyms

be silent

02to discuss

B1 · Intermediate Informal

v. to discuss a specific topic.

v. to discuss or deliberate upon a particular subject. Transitive in informal registers.

“Let's sit down and talk business over lunch.”

“If we are going to talk strategy, we need to ensure that every department head is present to provide their input.”

Synonyms

discuss debate

03to confess

C1 · Advanced Slang

v. to give information to the police or an enemy, often about other people.

v. to reveal secret information or confess to a crime, typically under pressure or interrogation.

“The police were sure the suspect would talk once they showed him the evidence.”

“Despite hours of intense questioning by the authorities, the witness refused to talk, fearing retaliation from the gang members.”

Synonyms

confess inform snitch

Antonyms

keep quiet

04a conversation

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a conversation between two or more people, often about something important.

n. an instance of spoken communication; a discussion or dialogue, often of a serious or purposeful nature.

“My boss wants to have a talk with me about my performance.”

“After the incident, the principal had a long talk with the students involved to explain the consequences of their actions.”

Synonyms

conversation discussion chat

Antonyms

silence

05a lecture

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a short speech or presentation given to a group of people.

n. a formal or semi-formal presentation or lecture on a specific subject.

“The professor gave an interesting talk on the history of the city.”

“The guest speaker delivered a fascinating talk regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on modern architectural design.”

Synonyms

lecture presentation address

06gossip

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. rumours or stories that people are telling about someone.

n. informal social communication involving rumours, gossip, or speculation. Uncountable in this sense.

“There has been a lot of talk about the company closing down.”

“Despite the official denials, there was persistent talk in the corridors about a major restructuring of the executive board.”

Synonyms

gossip rumour hearsay

07empty words

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal

n. promises or claims that someone makes but does not actually do.

n. boastful or promising speech that lacks substance or is not backed by action.

“He says he will help us, but I think it is just talk.”

“The politician's promises of reform proved to be mere talk once the election cycle had concluded and the budget was finalised.”

Synonyms

boasting rhetoric

Antonyms

action

talk vs speak

Speak focuses on the physical act of producing words or formal delivery, while talk focuses on the social exchange of a conversation.

RememberSpeak is a monologue; talk is a dialogue.

From Middle English talken, talkien, from Old English tealcian (“to talk, chat”), from Proto-West Germanic talkōn, from Proto-Germanic talkōną (“to talk, chatter”), frequentative form of Proto-Germanic talōną (“to count, recount, tell”), from Proto-Indo-European dol-, del- (“to aim, calculate, adjust, count”), equivalent to tell + -k. Cognate with Scots talk (“to talk”), Low German taalken (“to talk”). Related also to Danish tale (“to talk, speak”), Swedish tala (“to talk, speak, say, chatter”), Icelandic tala (“to talk”), Norwegian tale (“speech”), Old English talian (“to count, calculate, reckon, account, consider, think, esteem, value; argue; tell, relate; impute, assign”). More at tale. Despite the surface similarity, unrelated to Proto-Indo-European *telkʷ- (“to talk”) (due to Grimm's law), which is the source of loquacious.