Talk in different languages

Talk in Different Languages

Discover 'Talk' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'talk' holds a significant place in our daily lives, allowing us to communicate, express our thoughts, and connect with others. Its cultural importance is undeniable, as it facilitates the exchange of ideas, stories, and wisdom across generations and communities. Understanding the translation of 'talk' in different languages can open up new avenues of communication and cultural appreciation.

Did you know that the English word 'talk' comes from the Old English 'talu,' which means 'speech'? Or that in some cultures, talking is considered a form of art, such as the ancient Greek practice of 'rhetoric'? These fascinating historical contexts add depth to our understanding of this simple yet powerful word.

Whether you're a language enthusiast, a world traveler, or a business professional working with international colleagues, knowing the translation of 'talk' in different languages can be incredibly useful. By breaking down language barriers, you can build stronger relationships, deepen your cultural understanding, and expand your horizons.

Talk


Talk in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanspraat
"Praat" can also refer to a type of fish or to the action of bragging.
Amharicማውራት
Hausamagana
Hausa word "magana" also refers to "speech," "language," "saying," "rumor," or "news."
Igbokwuo
In Igbo, the word “kwuo” also means “to tell a story” or “to relate an account”.
Malagasylahateny
The word "lahateny" also refers to a type of Malagasy oratory that can be ceremonial, competitive, or for entertainment purposes.
Nyanja (Chichewa)nkhani
In Nyanja, the word "nkhani" also means "story" or "news."
Shonataura
Taura's etymology lies in the Proto-Bantu word *lɔ́ːɡ-, meaning 'to talk'. Other derivatives of this root include the Swahili word 'sauti' ('voice'), the Bemba word 'landa' ('to speak'), and the Zulu word 'khuluma' ('to talk').
Somalihadal
Somali 'hadal' derives from Arabic, meaning both 'speech' and 'reasoning'.
Sesothobua
"Bua" is also used to refer to the idea of an argument or a discussion.
Swahiliongea
"Ongea" can also mean "to negotiate" or "to discuss matters" in Swahili.
Xhosathetha
Alternate meanings of 'thetha' include 'to speak' and 'to tell'.
Yorubasọrọ
Sọrọ is also used figuratively to denote "business, affair, matter," "reason for speech," "speech, language," and "fame, renown."
Zulukhuluma
The Zulu word "khuluma" can also mean "to speak out" or "to express oneself."
Bambaraka kuma
Eweƒo nu
Kinyarwandavuga
Lingalakoloba
Lugandaokwoogera
Sepedibolela
Twi (Akan)kasa

Talk in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicحديث
The word "حديث" (hadith) also refers to a narrative about the Prophet Muhammad's life, used as a source of religious law and guidance.
Hebrewדבר
The Hebrew word "דבר" (davar) also means "thing" or "object," and is cognate with the Arabic word "دَابَرَ" (dabara), meaning "to arrange" or "to put in order."
Pashtoخبرې کول
خبرې كول can also mean
Arabicحديث
The word "حديث" (hadith) also refers to a narrative about the Prophet Muhammad's life, used as a source of religious law and guidance.

Talk in Western European Languages

Albanianflasim
The Albanian word "flasim" is derived from the Proto-Albanian *plākim- (
Basquehitz egin
"Hitz egin" also means "to do magic", perhaps from an older meaning of "to invoke" or "to cast a spell."
Catalanparlar
In French, "parler" means "to speak", in Spanish, "hablar", in Portuguese, "falar" and in Catalan, "parlar".
Croatianrazgovor
The Croatian word "razgovor" shares its Latin root "rogare" with "prayer" and "interrogation."
Danishtale
The Danish word "tale" can also mean "account" or "explanation".
Dutchpraten
Dutch "praten" comes from Proto-Germanic "brōtijaną" meaning "to make noise" via Old Saxon "pratian" (related to English "prate").
Englishtalk
The word "talk" derives from the Old English talian, meaning "to tell" or "to speak".
Frenchparler
In French, "parler" also means "to bet" or "to speak formally", derived from Latin "parabolāre" meaning "to speak".
Frisianprate
The Frisian word prate means 'talk' and is derived from the Middle Dutch word praten, which means 'to talk' or 'to babble'.
Galicianfalar
The verb 'falar' in Galician comes from the Latin 'fabulare', meaning 'to speak'.
Germansich unterhalten
"Sich unterhalten" (to talk) is etymologically related to the phrase "sich unter den Haltenden" (to be among those who hold), referring to a position of safety and comfort.
Icelandictala
"Tala"," to talk is related to "tell"in English and "tal" Swedish and Norwegian for “number."
Irishcaint
"Caint" can also mean "song" or "melody" in Irish.
Italianparlare
The Italian word "parlare" also means "to chat", "to speak", "to utter", or "to converse".
Luxembourgishschwätzen
In certain contexts, "schwätzen" can also mean to "chatter" or "gossip".
Maltesetkellem
The Maltese word 'tkellem' comes from the Arabic word 'kalam', which means 'speech' or 'word', and can also refer to 'negotiation', 'argument', or 'discussion'.
Norwegiansnakke
In Old Norse, "snakke" also meant "to converse" or "to gossip".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)falar
The word "falar" comes from the Latin "fabulari", meaning "to chat".
Scots Gaelicbruidhinn
"Bruidhinn" is likely related to the Old Irish verb "brith" (to carry) and the Old Welsh verb "brydu" (to utter or speak).
Spanishhablar
The word "hablar" comes from Latin "fabulari", meaning "to chat" and is related to the English word 'fable'.
Swedishprata
The word "prata" in Swedish also means "to chat" or "to gossip"
Welshsiarad
In Welsh mythology, Siarad was the goddess of talkativeness and eloquence.

Talk in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianразмаўляць
Some Belarusian dictionaries list that the word "размаўляць" can also mean "to chat".
Bosnianrazgovarati
The verb 'razgovarati' (to talk) is derived from the Slavic root 'govoriti' (to speak), which also gives rise to the words 'razgovor' (conversation) and 'govornik' (speaker).
Bulgarianговоря
The word "говоря" can also refer to the act of speaking in a public setting or making a public announcement.
Czechmluvit
A related word, "mlčeti" (be silent), is derived from the same root, but with the addition of the suffix "-ti".
Estonianrääkima
The Estonian word "rääkima" is thought to derive from a Proto-Finnic root "*rēke-, *rāke-" meaning "voice, sound, cry" or "to make a sound, to speak".
Finnishpuhua
The word 'puhua' is etymologically related to the Finnish word 'puhe' ('speech'), and it can also refer to a language or dialect.
Hungarianbeszélgetés
The Hungarian word "beszélgetés" is derived from "beszél" meaning "to speak", and the suffix "-getés" which conveys a habitual action or state.
Latvianrunāt
The Latvian word “runāt” may descend from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reu-dh- "make a sound, roar" if the consonant *dh became *n in Pre-Baltic.
Lithuaniankalbėti
The word "kalbėti" in Lithuanian is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷʰel-, meaning "to sound" or "to shout".
Macedonianразговор
The word "разговор" in Macedonian is derived from the Proto-Slavic "razgovorъ", meaning "agreement".
Polishrozmowa
The word "rozmowa" in Polish originated from the Old Church Slavonic word "razgovoriti", meaning "to speak". It also has the alternate meaning of "interview" or "conversation".
Romanianvorbi
The verb 'vorbi' likely derives from the Latin 'verbum', akin to 'logos', suggesting both 'language' and 'reasoning'.
Russianговорить
“Говорить” is a verb meaning “to speak”. It can also mean “to say”, “to tell”, or “to talk about”.
Serbianразговарати
The word "разговарати" is a Serbo-Croatian verb meaning "to talk" or "to converse" and derives from the Proto-Slavic word *razgovoriti, which means "to talk to, speak to, converse."
Slovakhovoriť
The word "hovoriť" in Slovak is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *gvoriti, meaning "to speak".
Slovenianpogovor
"Pogovor" in Slovenian can also refer to "conversation" or "interview".
Ukrainianговорити
A derivative of the verb 'to say' 'говорити' also means 'to speak' in Ukrainian.

Talk in South Asian Languages

Bengaliআলাপ
The word "আলাপ" in Bengali traces its origins to the Sanskrit word "आलापः" meaning "conversation" or "recitation".
Gujaratiવાત
The Gujarati word "વાત" (talk) is also used to refer to a religious discourse or a conversation about spiritual matters.
Hindiबातचीत
"बातचीत" ultimately comes from Sanskrit, through Prakrit "vatta" (speech), and is related to the English word "chat"
Kannadaಮಾತು
The Kannada word "ಮಾತು" also means "a story" or "a statement".
Malayalamസംസാരിക്കുക
The word
Marathiचर्चा
The Marathi word "चर्चा" not only refers to a "talk or conversation", it can also mean a "controversy or dispute".
Nepaliकुरा
The word "कुरा" in Nepali can also mean "secret" or "matter".
Punjabiਗੱਲ ਕਰੋ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)කතා කරන්න
Tamilபேச்சு
The word 'பேச்சு' also means 'language' and 'speech' in Tamil.
Teluguచర్చ
"చర్చ" has alternate meanings like a religious service where a devotional book is discussed, a discourse etc.
Urduبات
The word "بات" in Urdu can also mean "night" or "sleep".

Talk in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)谈论
谈论 in Chinese can also mean discuss, confer, negotiate, chat, converse.
Chinese (Traditional)談論
談 (tan) means 'discuss', while 論 (lun) means 'argue'.
Japaneseトーク
The word "トーク" can also mean "conversation", "discourse", or "lecture" in Japanese.
Korean이야기
In Old Korean, '이야기' referred to a story or a folktale, reflecting the oral tradition of storytelling.
Mongolianярих
"Ярих" (talk) is derived from the verb "яраха" (to do, to act). It can also refer to a conversation, a speech, or a rumor.
Myanmar (Burmese)စကားပြော

Talk in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianberbicara
The Indonesian verb "berbicara" also has the meaning of "to recite", especially in a religious context.
Javanesengomong
'Ngomong' has other meanings, e.g., 'to speak one's mind', 'to tell a story', and 'to make a request'
Khmerនិយាយ
The word "និយាយ" (talk) comes from the Sanskrit word "ni-vad-ti", meaning "to announce" or "to proclaim."
Laoສົນທະນາ
Malaybercakap
The word "bercakap" in Malay is derived from the Sanskrit word "brkata", which means "to speak". It can also refer to "conversation", "discussion", or "dialogue".
Thaiการพูดคุย
In Thai, "การพูดคุย" not only means "talk" but also "conversation" or "discussion".
Vietnamesenói chuyện
"Nói chuyện" comes from the verb "nói" (to speak) and the noun "chuyện" (story, matter). It can also mean "to have a conversation" or "to gossip".
Filipino (Tagalog)usapan

Talk in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanidanışmaq
"Danışmaq" is a derivative of "danış"("advice") and the suffix "-mak", which transforms the noun "danış" into a verb meaning "to consult", "to ask advice".
Kazakhәңгіме
The word "әңгіме" (talk) in Kazakh also means "story" or "tale".
Kyrgyzсүйлөшүү
Tajikгуфтугӯ кардан
From the Persian word "гуфтугӯ", meaning "chat" or "conversation."
Turkmengürleş
Uzbekgapirish
In informal speech, "gapirish" can also refer to "chatter" or "nonsense".
Uyghurپاراڭ

Talk in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankamailio
The word kamailio in Hawaiian also means 'to talk aloud to oneself or to another person, to converse, chat'.
Maorikorero
In classical Maori language, 'korero' also referred to a ritualised form of dialogue, often involving poetic or metaphorical speech and performed on formal or sacred occasions.
Samoantautalaga
"Tautalaga" derives from the words "ta" (to do) and "tala" (to tell), indicating not only speech but also action and storytelling.
Tagalog (Filipino)usapan

Talk in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraarsuña
Guaraniñe'ẽ

Talk in International Languages

Esperantoparoli
Originating from French, it also means 'money one gambles' in Italian.
Latindisputatio
In medieval Latin, "disputatio" also referred to a formal debate in which scholars presented opposing arguments on a specific topic.

Talk in Others Languages

Greekμιλα ρε
The Greek phrase "ΜΙΛΑ ρε" is derived from the Turkish "mı laş", meaning "or else" or "if not". Its current usage in Greek evolved from its original function as an interjection expressing impatience or exasperation.
Hmongtham
The word "tham" can also mean "to whisper" or "to gossip".
Kurdishaxaftin
The word "axaftin" in Kurdish is derived from the Persian word "guftan" and also means "to tell" or "to say".
Turkishkonuşmak
The word "konuşmak" is derived from the Turkic root word "kon" meaning "meeting place" or "gathering," and also means "to be located" or "to reside."
Xhosathetha
Alternate meanings of 'thetha' include 'to speak' and 'to tell'.
Yiddishרעדן
Rearedn can also mean advise, as in 'er hot em gerearednt', she advised him.
Zulukhuluma
The Zulu word "khuluma" can also mean "to speak out" or "to express oneself."
Assameseকথা পাতক
Aymaraarsuña
Bhojpuriबतियाईं
Dhivehiވާހަކަ ދެއްކުން
Dogriगल्ल
Filipino (Tagalog)usapan
Guaraniñe'ẽ
Ilocanoagsao
Kriotɔk
Kurdish (Sorani)قسەکردن
Maithiliगप्प
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯋꯥ ꯉꯥꯡꯕ
Mizobia
Oromodubbachuu
Odia (Oriya)କଥାବାର୍ତ୍ତା |
Quechuarimay
Sanskritप्रलपतु
Tatarсөйләшү
Tigrinyaተዛረብ
Tsongavulavula

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