Parler is the most common way to say “to speak” in French. But there are several other options. As you learn French, you'll find yourself in many situations where you need to express yourself, and knowing a variety of ways to say "to speak" can truly enrich your conversations! Let’s explore some common and not-so-common ways to say “to speak” in French!

The standard 'to speak' – parler

Parler is the most common and versatile verb for 'to speak' or 'to talk' in French.

As a regular -er verb, parler follows a predictable conjugation pattern in the present tense: * Je parle (I speak) * Tu parles (You speak - informal singular) * Il/Elle/On parle (He/She/One speaks) * Nous parlons (We speak) * Vous parlez (You speak - formal singular/plural) * Ils/Elles parlent (They speak)

When referring to speaking a language, parler is used directly, without a preposition. For example, Je parle français (I speak French).

To express 'to speak about something or someone', you typically use the preposition de (or its contractions like du, des). For instance, Nous parlons de nos vacances (We are talking about our vacation).

When you want to say 'to speak to someone', the preposition à is used. For example, Elle parle à son ami (She is speaking to her friend).

Parler is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile choice for almost any conversation.

Some common expressions include parler fort (to speak loudly), parler bas (to speak softly), and parler en public (to speak in public).

💡 * Je parle un peu espagnol. (I speak a little Spanish.)

Nous parlons de la politique. (We are talking about politics.)

Peux-tu parler plus fort, s'il te plaît ? (Can you speak louder, please?)

Il aime parler aux enfants. (He likes to talk to children.)

Elles parlent souvent ensemble. (They often talk together.)

The 'to discuss' or 'to chat' – discuter

The French verb discuter is a versatile and commonly used verb that primarily means 'to discuss' or 'to chat.' It implies an exchange of ideas or information, often in a conversational setting.

While it can certainly be used for formal discussions, discuter is very frequently employed in everyday language to simply mean 'to talk' or 'to have a conversation' with someone, especially in a friendly or informal context.

When you want to specify what you are discussing or chatting about, discuter is usually followed by the preposition de. For example, discuter de quelque chose means 'to discuss something'.

It's important to note that discuter is generally less confrontational than verbs like débattre (to debate) and more interactive than parler (to speak), which can be a monologue. Discuter emphasizes a back-and-forth exchange.

This verb often carries a connotation of a pleasant or productive exchange, where people are sharing thoughts and opinions without necessarily arguing. It's about communication and connection.

As a regular -ER verb, discuter follows standard conjugation patterns, making it relatively straightforward to learn and use in various tenses.

💡 *Nous aimons discuter de tout et de rien pendant des heures. (We like to chat about everything and nothing for hours.)
*J'ai discuté avec mon ami de nos projets de vacances. (I discussed our vacation plans with my friend.)
*Ils discutent souvent de politique autour d'un café. (They often discuss politics over coffee.)
*Tu devrais discuter de ce problème avec ton professeur. (You should discuss this problem with your teacher.)
*On a discuté toute la soirée sans voir le temps passer. (We chatted all evening without seeing the time pass.)

The 'to converse' (often more formal) – converser

The verb converser directly translates to 'to converse' in English, and it carries a similar formal tone.

While parler (to speak, to talk) is the most common verb for general communication, converser implies a more sustained, often intellectual or polite exchange between people. It suggests a dialogue rather than a monologue or simple statement.

Think of converser as a more elevated or literary way to say 'to talk' or 'to chat' in a formal setting. You wouldn't typically use it for casual everyday chatter among friends, where parler is perfectly sufficient.

Converser is a regular -ER verb, which means its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er (e.g., je converse, tu converses, il/elle converse, nous conversons, vous conversez, ils/elles conversent).

You'll most often find converser used with the preposition avec (with) to indicate who you are conversing with, or de (about) to specify the topic of conversation.

💡 * Ils aimaient converser de philosophie. (They liked to converse about philosophy.)

J'ai conversé avec le professeur après la conférence. (I conversed with the professor after the conference.)

Nous avons longuement conversé sur l'avenir du projet. (We conversed at length about the future of the project.)

Elle aime converser avec des personnes de tous horizons. (She likes to converse with people from all walks of life.)

The 'to express oneself' – s'exprimer

The verb s'exprimer translates directly to 'to express oneself' in English. It is a fundamental verb for conveying thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

S'exprimer is a reflexive verb, meaning it always uses a reflexive pronoun (e.g., me, te, se) that agrees with the subject. This emphasizes that the action of expressing is directed back to the subject.

It is widely used to describe how someone communicates their inner state or opinions, such as s'exprimer clairement (to express oneself clearly) or s'exprimer sur un sujet (to express oneself on a topic).

This verb is versatile, applicable to various forms of expression, from verbal communication to artistic and emotional conveyance. It highlights the act of making one's inner world known.

💡 * Il est difficile de s'exprimer quand on est timide. (It's difficult to express oneself when one is shy.)

Elle s'exprime très bien en public. (She expresses herself very well in public.)

Nous devons apprendre à s'exprimer librement. (We must learn to express ourselves freely.)

Comment t'exprimes-tu quand tu es en colère ? (How do you express yourself when you are angry?)

Les artistes s'expriment à travers leurs œuvres. (Artists express themselves through their works.)

The 'to take the floor' or 'to speak publicly' – prendre la parole

The French expression prendre la parole directly translates to 'to take the word' but is universally understood as 'to take the floor' or 'to speak publicly'.

At its heart, prendre la parole signifies the act of starting to speak in a formal or public setting, often after someone else has finished or when a discussion is opened.

This idiom is typically used in situations requiring a degree of formality, such as meetings, conferences, debates, or when addressing a group of people. It implies a deliberate decision to contribute verbally.

Unlike the general verb parler (to speak), prendre la parole carries the nuance of gaining permission or claiming the right to speak, often to present an idea, ask a question, or express an opinion to an audience.

As an idiomatic expression built around the verb prendre (to take), its conjugation follows that of prendre. The definite article la is always used before parole.

Remember to use prendre la parole when you want to convey the act of initiating a formal address or public statement, rather than just casual conversation.

💡 * Le président va prendre la parole après le discours. (The president will take the floor after the speech.)

Qui souhaite prendre la parole ? (Who wishes to speak / take the floor?)

Elle a pris la parole pour défendre son projet. (She spoke publicly to defend her project.)

Il est difficile de prendre la parole devant une grande assemblée. (It's difficult to speak publicly in front of a large assembly.)

The 'to have a conversation' (often formal or serious) – s'entretenir

When you want to express the idea of 'to have a conversation' in French, especially one that is more formal, serious, or structured, the verb s'entretenir is an excellent choice. This reflexive verb often implies a meeting or discussion with a specific purpose.

Unlike the more general parler (to speak) or discuter (to discuss), s'entretenir is frequently used in professional or administrative settings. Think of job interviews, official consultations, or when a journalist s'entretient with a politician.

While parler simply means 'to speak' and discuter suggests a more casual 'to chat' or 'to discuss,' s'entretenir implies a more focused exchange, often where one party seeks information or advice from another. It carries a sense of formality and purpose.

You will typically use s'entretenir avec quelqu'un (to have a conversation with someone). If you want to specify the topic of the conversation, you can use s'entretenir de quelque chose (to converse about something) or s'entretenir au sujet de quelque chose.

In summary, reserve s'entretenir for situations where the conversation is more than just casual talk – it's an interview, a meeting, a formal discussion, or a serious exchange of ideas. It conveys respect and purpose.

💡 *Je dois m'entretenir avec mon professeur après le cours. (I need to have a conversation with my professor after class.)
*Le journaliste s'est entretenu avec le président. (The journalist had a conversation with the president.)
*Ils se sont entretenus longuement de l'avenir de l'entreprise. (They conversed at length about the future of the company.)
*Je voudrais m'entretenir avec vous de cette question importante. (I would like to speak with you about this important matter.)

The 'to chat' or 'to gossip' (informal) – bavarder

The French verb bavarder primarily means "to chat" or "to talk" in an informal setting. It describes casual conversation, often without a specific purpose beyond social interaction.

This verb is distinctly informal. While it can simply mean light chatting, it can also carry a connotation of "to gossip" or "to prattle," especially if the conversation is considered idle, lengthy, or involves discussing others' affairs.

Bavarder is frequently used to describe conversations among friends, classmates, or colleagues during breaks. It implies a relaxed, often spontaneous exchange of words, making it a common verb in everyday French.

💡 * Nous aimons bavarder pendant la pause café. (We like to chat during the coffee break.)

Arrête de bavarder et concentre-toi sur ton travail. (Stop chatting and focus on your work.)

Elles passaient des heures à bavarder au téléphone. (They spent hours gossiping/chatting on the phone.)

Les enfants bavardent en classe quand le professeur a le dos tourné. (The children chat in class when the teacher's back is turned.)

Il aime bavarder avec ses voisins. (He likes to chat with his neighbors.)

The 'to natter' or 'to prattle' (light informal chat) – papotter

The verb papotter means 'to natter,' 'to prattle,' or 'to chat idly.' It describes a light, informal conversation, often about everyday topics, without much depth or seriousness.

It carries a very informal and sometimes slightly gossipy connotation, perfect for describing friendly, relaxed conversations among friends or family. It's less formal than discuter (to discuss) and more casual than parler (to speak).

You'd use papotter when talking about people catching up over coffee, exchanging pleasantries, or sharing light news. It often implies a relaxed atmosphere where the main goal is simply to pass the time together.

The related noun is un papotage, which means 'a chat' or 'gossip session,' further emphasizing the informal and often light-hearted nature of the conversation.

💡 * Elles adorent papotter pendant des heures au café. (They love to natter for hours at the cafe.)

Arrête de papotter et concentre-toi sur ton travail ! (Stop prattling and concentrate on your work!)

On a papoté de tout et de rien hier soir. (We chatted about everything and nothing last night.)

Les voisins papottent souvent dans la cour. (The neighbors often chat in the courtyard.)

The 'to dialogue' or 'to talk formally' – dialoguer

When you want to express the idea of 'to dialogue' or 'to have a formal discussion' in French, the verb to use is dialoguer. It implies a structured exchange of ideas, often with a specific purpose, rather than just casual talking.

Dialoguer is more formal than parler (to speak) or discuter (to discuss casually). It often suggests a mutual exchange of views, a conversation between two or more parties aiming for understanding or resolution. Think of it in contexts like diplomacy, business meetings, or serious personal conversations.

As a regular -er verb, dialoguer follows the standard conjugation patterns. It is often used transitively with avec (with) or sur (on/about) when specifying the other party or the topic of dialogue, but it can also be used intransitively.

You'll frequently encounter dialoguer in situations requiring negotiation, mediation, or when emphasizing a back-and-forth exchange of perspectives. It highlights the interactive and often purposeful nature of the conversation, moving beyond simple communication to a deeper level of engagement.

💡 * Les deux parties ont décidé de dialoguer pour trouver une solution. (The two parties decided to dialogue to find a solution.)

Le gouvernement doit dialoguer avec les citoyens. (The government must dialogue with the citizens.)

Nous avons dialogué pendant des heures sur ce sujet complexe. (We dialogued for hours on this complex subject.)

Il est essentiel de dialoguer ouvertement pour éviter les malentendus. (It is essential to dialogue openly to avoid misunderstandings.)

Are there other ways to say 'to speak' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'to speak' in French. However, the French language is rich with nuances, offering a variety of terms from formal expressions to informal slang, and even regionalisms that this author might not be fully aware of!

To delve deeper, you can also perform an online search for 'comment dire parler en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region to uncover local expressions.

You might discover interesting synonyms for parler on such lists. Always remember to verify a word’s definition and observe its usage in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

As you immerse yourself in French media — reading, watching, and listening — pay close attention. You're likely to encounter diverse ways to express the act of speaking.

For an extensive exploration of synonyms and related terms for 'to speak' in French, the WordReference entry for parler is an excellent starting point!

I hope this article has been insightful. To conclude, here's a fitting quote from Victor Hugo: "Parler, c'est semer; écouter, c'est recueillir." (To speak is to sow; to listen is to reap.)

9 ways to say "to speak" in French