Translation of German word "sprechen" to English
sprechen
/ʃpʁɛçən/
Meaning
VerbTo communicate with one's voice, to say words out loud.
How to use
The strong verb sprechen ('to speak / talk') changes its root vowel in singular present: ich spreche, du sprichst, er spricht. Past forms: sprach, hat gesprochen. It requires the preposition mit + dative for the person spoken to (Ich spreche mit dir) and über + accusative or von + dative for the topic (Wir sprechen über das Projekt).
🇬🇧 English
to speak
Example
Ich war so überrascht, dass ich nicht sprechen konnte.
I was so surprised that I couldn't speak.
Es ist Ewigkeiten her, seit wir gesprochen haben.
It's been ages since we spoke.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- Deutsch sprechen— to speak German
- sprechen mit— to speak / talk with (requires preposition 'mit' + dative)
- sprechen über— to speak / talk about (requires preposition 'über' + accusative)
More Core Verbs words
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "sprechen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich habe gesprochen
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #176 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "sprechen"?▼
The German word "sprechen" is defined as: "To communicate with one's voice, to say words out loud."
What does the German word "sprechen" mean?▼
The German word "sprechen" means "to speak" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "sprechen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "sprechen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "sprechen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Ich war so überrascht, dass ich nicht sprechen konnte." (which translates as "I was so surprised that I couldn't speak.").
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