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• speak: make use of words in a normal voice.
  May I speak to George?
  
  
• talk: speak to give information, say things.
  What are they talking about?
  
  
• hesitate: be slow to speak (or act) because one is uncertain or unwilling to talk.
  He hesitated before answering my question.
  
  
• whisper: speak softly, without vibrating the vocal cords, privately or secretly.
  She whispered the secret word in my ear.
  
  
• hiss: say something in a loud whisper. (Snakes also hiss).
  'Get out!' she hissed at me furiously.
  
  
• mumble: speak unclearly, so that others can't hear.
  He mumbled something at me which I didn't understand.
  
  
• mutter: speak in a low voice, which is hard to hear.
  She was muttering something to herself as she went out.
  
  
• murmur: speak in a soft, quiet voice that is difficult to hear clearly.
  The classmates murmured during the test.
  
  
• hum: make a low continuous sound, when you take a long time deciding what to say.
  She hummed at the beginning of the oral exam.
  
  
• grunt: make short sounds or say a few words in a rough voice, when you don't want to talk. (Pigs also grunt).
  She grunted a few words and left the table.
  
  
• stammer: speak with pauses and repeating the same sound or syllable, habitually or from fear or excitement.
  'P-p-please give me the p-p-pen,' he stammered.
  
  
• stutter: stammer.
  'P-p-please give me the p-p-pen,' he stuttered.
  
  
• quaver: speak tremulously, because you are nervous or upset.
  Her voice quavered for a moment but then she regained control.
  
  
• lisp: speak with /th/ sounds instead of /s/ sounds.
  You're very thilly, Thimon. (You're very silly, Simon.)
  
  
• babble = gabble: talk foolishly, in a way difficult to understand.
  Her fever made her babble without stopping.
  
  
• ramble: talk continuously, in a confused way.
  Stop rambling and get to the point, please!
  
  
• slur: speak unclearly, without separating the words correctly.
  He was so drunk that he slurred to the bartender for more.
  
  
• chat: have a friendly informal conversation.
  They chatted away in the corner.
  
  
• chatter: talk quickly and at length about something unimportant.
  Please stop chattering, I'm trying to listen to the TV!
  
  
• gossip: talk about the affairs of other people.
  She was gossiping about her neighbours all day.
  
  
• call: speak in a loud clear voice, shout, cry.
  They called for help.
  
  
• shout: speak in a loud voice, in anger or to get attention.
  He had to shout because the music was too loud.
  
  
• whoop: shout loudly and happily.
  The children whooped when we entered the fair.
  
  
• cry (out): make a sharp noise, in pain or surprise.
  She cried out in terror when the old man appeared suddenly.
  
  
• yell: cry out loudly, in fear, pain or excitement.
  She yelled in terror when she saw the dead cat.
  
  
• scream: cry out very loudly on a high note, in fear, pain, anger or laughter.
  The baby was screaming the whole day.
  
  
• shriek: scream.
  The men shrieked with laughter.
  
  
• bellow: shout in a deep voice.
  The captain bellowed orders at the crew.
  
  
• squeak: speak in a high-pitched voice.
  She squeaked out a few words nervously.
  
  
• squeal: speak in a high-pitched voice, with longer and louder sounds than in a squeak.
  'Let me go!' she squealed.
  
  
• cheer: shout because of happiness.
  The public cheered when the team appeared.
  
  
• croak: speak with a deep hoarse voice.
  She had such a terrible cold that she could only croak.
  
  
• blurt out: say something suddenly and tactlessly.
  She blurted out the bad news before I could stop her.

Related verbs

emit - communicate - pronounce - announce - mention - relate - narrate - retell - report - butt in - interrupt - discuss - argue - lecture - preach - define - state - assert- clarify - declare

We thank Alejandro Listrani (from Buenos Aires, Argentina), Eugenia Laguia (from Pergamino, Argentina) and Javier Alvarez Correa (from Merida, Spain) for their contribution.

Practice

Exercise - Ways of speaking - Difficult

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