speaking

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈspiː.kɪŋ/
• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈspi.kɪŋ/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈspiː.kɪŋ/, [ˈspɪi̯.kɪŋ]
• Rhymes: -iːkɪŋ

Etymology 1

From Middle English spekinge, spekynge, spekinde, spekende, spekande, spekand, from Old English specende, sprecende (“speaking”), from Proto-Germanic *sprekandz (“speaking”), present participle of Proto-Germanic *sprekaną (“to speak”). Equivalent to speak +‎ -ing. Cognate with Scots speikand, speikin (“speaking”), Saterland Frisian spreekend (“speaking”), West Frisian sprekkend (“speaking”), Dutch sprekend (“speaking”), German Low German sprekend (“speaking”), German sprechend (“speaking”).

Adjective

speaking (not comparable)

1. Used in speaking.

   one's normal speaking voice

2. Expressive; eloquent.

   The sight was more speaking than any speech could be.

   • 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XLIV, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 267:

     There was no reply, save on the speaking countenance.

3. Involving speaking.

   It was her first speaking part: she screamed.

4. Having the ability of speech.

   speaking parrot; speaking clock

   1. (in compounds) Having competence in a language.

      The English-speaking gentleman gave us directions.

      I travel in Russian-speaking countries.

      The French-speaking world listened in to the broadcast.

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of "expressive"): unspeaking
• (antonym(s) of "involving speaking"): nonspeaking

Derived terms

• English-speaking
• speaking objection

 

Translations

used in speaking

• German: Sprech-, Sprach-
• Hungarian: beszéd- (hu)

eloquent — see eloquent

having the ability of speech

• Bulgarian: говорещ (bg) (govorešt)
• Finnish: puhuva (fi)
• German: Sprech-, -sprachig (de), -sprechend, sprechend (de), Rede-, rede-
• Hungarian: beszélő (hu)
• Russian: говоря́щий (ru) (govorjáščij)

Etymology 2

From Middle English speking, spekynge, equivalent to speak +‎ -ing.

Noun

speaking (plural speakings)

1. One's ability to communicate vocally in a given language.

   I can read and understand most texts in German, but my speaking is awful.

2. The act of communicating vocally.
   • 2011, Jimmie W. Greene, Samuel D. Perry, Bridge Builder, page 50:

     Sometimes, a brawl would erupt, as a result, but, in general, public speakings were peaceful events and essential ingredients for election to office.

3. An oral recitation of e.g. a story.

Translations

the act of speaking

• Bulgarian: говорене (bg) n (govorene)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 說／说 (zh) (shuō), 講／讲 (zh) (jiǎng)

• German: Sprechen (de) n
• Hungarian: beszéd (hu)
• Japanese: 話すこと (ja) (はなすこと, hanasu koto)
• Korean: 말하기 (malhagi)
• Russian: говоре́ние (ru) n (govorénije), разгово́р (ru) m (razgovór)
• Ukrainian: говоріння (hovorinnja), мовлення (movlennja)

the act of communicating vocally

• Bulgarian: разговор (bg) m (razgovor)
• Hungarian: beszéd (hu)
• Russian: разгово́р (ru) m (razgovór) (conversation)

an oral recitation

• Bulgarian: реч (bg) f (reč), рецитиране (bg) n (recitirane)
• Russian: речь (ru) f (rečʹ), выступле́ние (ru) n (vystuplénije) (address)

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

speaking

1. present participle and gerund of speak

Interjection

speaking

1. (telephony) Indication that the person requested is the same as the one who is currently speaking.

Translations

indication that the person requested is the same as the one who is currently speaking

• Bulgarian: на телефона (na telefona)
• French: ^{(please verify)} (c’est) lui-même/elle-même (à l’appareil)
• German: am Apparat (de)
• Hungarian: én vagyok az (literally “I am that”)
• Polish: tu (pl), tutaj (pl), z tej strony

Anagrams

• peakings