WAYS OF SPEAKING
- speak: make use of words in a normal voice.
May I speak to George?
- talk: speak to give information, say things.
What are they talking about?
- hesitate: be slow to speak (or act) because one is uncertain or unwilling to talk.
He hesitated before answering my question.
- whisper: speak softly, without vibrating the vocal cords, privately or secretly.
She whispered the secret word in my ear.
- hiss: say something in a loud whisper. (Snakes also hiss).
'Get out!' she hissed at me furiously.
- mumble: speak unclearly, so that others can't hear.
He mumbled something at me which I didn't understand.
- mutter: speak in a low voice, which is hard to hear.
She was muttering something to herself as she went out.
- murmur: speak in a soft, quiet voice that is difficult to hear clearly.
The classmates murmured during the test.
- hum: make a low continuous sound, when you take a long time deciding what to say.
She hummed at the beginning of the oral exam.
- grunt: make short sounds or say a few words in a rough voice, when you don't want to talk. (Pigs also grunt).
She grunted a few words and left the table.
- stammer: speak with pauses and repeating the same sound or syllable, habitually or from fear or excitement.
'P-p-please give me the p-p-pen,' he stammered.
- stutter: stammer.
'P-p-please give me the p-p-pen,' he stuttered.
- quaver: speak tremulously, because you are nervous or upset.
Her voice quavered for a moment but then she regained control.
- lisp: speak with /th/ sounds instead of /s/ sounds.
You're very thilly, Thimon. (You're very silly, Simon.)
- babble = gabble: talk foolishly, in a way difficult to understand.
Her fever made her babble without stopping.
- ramble: talk continuously, in a confused way.
Stop rambling and get to the point, please!
- slur: speak unclearly, without separating the words correctly.
He was so drunk that he slurred to the bartender for more.
- chat: have a friendly informal conversation.
They chatted away in the corner.
- chatter: talk quickly and at length about something unimportant.
Please stop chattering, I'm trying to listen to the TV!
- gossip: talk about the affairs of other people.
She was gossiping about her neighbours all day.
- call: speak in a loud clear voice, shout, cry.
They called for help.
- shout: speak in a loud voice, in anger or to get attention.
He had to shout because the music was too loud.
- whoop: shout loudly and happily.
The children whooped when we entered the fair.
- cry (out): make a sharp noise, in pain or surprise.
She cried out in terror when the old man appeared suddenly.
- yell: cry out loudly, in fear, pain or excitement.
She yelled in terror when she saw the dead cat.
- scream: cry out very loudly on a high note, in fear, pain, anger or laughter.
The baby was screaming the whole day.
- shriek: scream.
The men shrieked with laughter.
- bellow: shout in a deep voice.
The captain bellowed orders at the crew.
- squeak: speak in a high-pitched voice.
She squeaked out a few words nervously.
- squeal: speak in a high-pitched voice, with longer and louder sounds than in a squeak.
'Let me go!' she squealed.
- cheer: shout because of happiness.
The public cheered when the team appeared.
- croak: speak with a deep hoarse voice.
She had such a terrible cold that she could only croak.
- blurt out: say something suddenly and tactlessly.
She blurted out the bad news before I could stop her.