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.
• 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.