💬Talking, reading, writing
Speak, sing, answer, read, write, help.
6 concepts
Columns follow the languages switched on at the top. Gender after the word (m/f/n); IPA beneath; notes, alternatives and origins underneath — nothing is hidden.
| Concept | English | Français | Español |
|---|---|---|---|
to speak / talk verb | to speak also: to talk Speak = the ability or a formal occasion (speak French, speak at a conference); talk = conversation (talk to a friend). | parler One verb for both speak and talk. Parler à quelqu'un = talk to someone. | hablar also: charlar (chat) The h is silent. One verb for speak and talk. |
to sing verb | to sing Ends in /ŋ/ with no /ɡ/ after it. Irregular: sang, sung. | chanter Also 'to appeal': ça te chante ? = do you fancy it? | cantar |
to answer / reply verb | to answer also: to reply (to) The w is silent. Answer takes the thing directly — answer the question, answer the phone — while reply needs 'to'. | répondre Needs à: répondre à la question, répondre au téléphone. The English 'answer the question' becomes 'répondre la question' — a common slip. | contestar also: responder Contestar is everyday (contestar el teléfono); responder is a little more formal and takes a: responder a una pregunta. |
to read verb | to read Spelled the same in the past but said /ɹɛd/ — context tells you which. | lire Irregular: je lis, j'ai lu. | leer Two e's, two syllables: le-er. |
to write verb | to write Silent w. Irregular: wrote, written. Sounds like right and rite. | écrire Irregular: nous écrivons, j'ai écrit. | escribir Past participle escrito (irregular). |
to help (lend a hand) verb | to help Takes the person directly: help me. 'Help me to carry' and 'help me carry' are both fine. | aider Takes the person directly: aider quelqu'un, je t'aide — unlike German. | ayudar Takes the person directly: te ayudo. Ayudar a + infinitive: ayudar a mover. |