It's not always what you say, but how you say it that matters...
You've mastered parler (to talk, to speak) and dire (to say, to tell), but the subtleties of speech often need more than these to best convey how we speak.
Baby talk:
Babiller - to babble
Gazouiller - to babble
Saying it softly:
Murmurer - to murmur, to whisper
Chuchoter - to whisper
Bruire - to whisper (less common)
Marmonner - to mumble
Un murmure - a whisper
Un chuchotement - a whisper
Un bruissement - a whisper
Parler doucement - to talk quietly
Between friends:
Bavarder - to chat
Jaser - to gossip
Potiner - gossip
Faire la causette - to chin-wag
Blaguer - to joke
Discuter - to discuss
Papoter - to natter
Jacasser - to cackle, to prattle
Plaisanter - to joke, to banter
Taquiner - to tease
To win someone over:
Draguer (quelqu'un) - to chat up or flirt with (someone)
Flagorner - to flatter, to sweet-talk
Flatter - to flatter
Courtiser - to flatter, to woo
To disagree or complain:
Se disputer - to argue, to quarrel
Argumenter - to argue
Débattre - to discuss, to debate
Râler - to gripe, to whinge
Se plaindre - to complain, to snivel
Bagarrer - to quarrel
Se chamailler - to squabble
Négocier - to discuss, to negotiate
Grogner - to grumble
Rouspéter - to grumble, to grouse
To be understood:
Expliquer - to explain
Justifier - to justify, to excuse
Démontrer - to demonstrate, to explain
Éclairer - to enlighten, to clarify
To be heard:
Crier - to shout, to scream
Hurler - to scream, to yell
A voix haute - with a high voice, with a loud voice
A haute voix - aloud, out loud
As the French might say... :
Parler comme quatre - to be very talkative...
La langue de bois - political cant, smooth talk
Avoir la langue bien pendue - to have the gift of the gab
La flagornerie - sweet-talk
Bêler une chèvre - to speak with a shaky voice (litterally 'to bleat like a goat')
Parler entre ses dents - to mumble
Le charabia - gobbledygook
Le baratin - waffle, claptrap
When words fail:
Bégayer - to stutter
Zézayer - to lisp
Zozoter - to lisp
Avoir un chat dans la gorge - to have a frog (litterally 'a cat') in your throat
Être à bouche bée - to be speechless
Être sans voix - to be speechless
Muet (m) / muette (f) - mute
Communiquer en langue des
signes - to communicate in sign language
Mimer - to mime
If you liked this article, please share it!
