April 27, 2026
Vastny Languages editorial team· updated September 10, 2026
Speaking English: 6 Different Words
In Russian, we often just say «говорить» or «сказать». In English, there are several words for this: say, tell, speak, talk, ask, answer. They do not replace each other one-to-one.
Quick cheat sheet
- A phrase or exact words — say.
- Said to someone — tell.
- A language or formal speech — speak.
- A conversation between people — talk.
- A question or request — ask.
- A reply to a question — answer.
SAY — when the words themselves matter
Use say when it matters exactly what someone said. It can be a single word, a phrase, or a short message.
Don’t confuse it: after say, we usually don’t put the person immediately after it. We say say hello, say sorry, say the word.
Example: She said hello.
say
verbсказать
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TELL — when you say something to someone
Use tell when there is a person you are telling something to. A simple formula helps: tell + person + information.
Example: Tell me the truth.
tell
verbсообщить
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SPEAK — a language or more formal speech
We often use speak when talking about languages: speak English, speak French. Speak also sounds a bit more formal, for example in a meeting or a presentation.
Example: I speak English.
speak
verbговорить
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TALK — when people converse
Talk is a live conversation between people. Not just one phrase, but communication: discuss, chat, talk things over.
Example: Can we talk?
talk
verbразговаривать
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ASK — when you ask a question
Use ask when you want to know the answer or are asking for something. It is the beginning: you ask and wait for a response.
Example: Ask your teacher.
ANSWER — when you respond
Answer is a response to a question, a call, or a message. If ask means “to ask,” then answer means “to reply.”
Example: Please answer the question.
answer
verbотвечать
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How to remember
Look at the situation. A specific phrase — say. A person you are speaking to — tell. Speaking a language — speak. A conversation is happening — talk. You ask a question — ask. You reply — answer.