Vocabulaire : Speaking

English Verb

Translation

Explanation/reformulation

1. Façon de parler / articuler

Utter

Prononcer / dire

= use of the voice

Whisper

Chuchoter / murmurer

= can be secret or affectionate or both

Murmur

murmurer

Mumble

Marmonner / bafouiller / dire entre les dents

= to speak indistinctly

Drawl

Parler d’une voix traînante

= to speak slowly and not very clearly

Slur one’s words

Manger ses mots / mal articuler

= to speak indistinctly, often after alcohol

Rattle off one’s words

Débiter / énumérer

= to speak very quickly and effortlessly

Stammer

Bégayer / balbutier

= to speak shyly, repeating words or syllables

Stutter

Lisp / Have a lisp

Parler avec un cheveu sur la langue / zozoter

= people who lisp can’t say ‘s/z’ properly

Babble

Babiller / gaziller (bébé)

Bredouiller (adulte)

= to speak too quickly and in a confused way

Gabble

= the same as ‘babble’, but not for babies

Prattle

Jacasser / blablater / papoter / bredouiller

= to talk rapidly about uninteresting subjects

Jabber

Gibber

Dire n’importe quoi^[1]

= to talk rubbish

Quaver

Chevroter / trembler

= to speak in an unsteady voice

Have a lilt

Parler de manière chantante

= to speak in a singing/singsong way

2. Conversation

Discuss

Débattre / discuter

= neutral (not like « contester »)

State

Déclarer / affirmer

= idea of clarity and precision

Argue

soutenir

= implies conviction, defending a cause

!! to argue with sbdy = se disputer

Debate

Débattre / discuter

= often a formal, public discussion

Remark

Faire remarquer

= to call attention to something

Comment on/upon

Commenter

Chat

Bavarder / Tchatter (net)

= to talk in a light and easy way

Chatter

Bavarder / papoter

= to chat + idea of rapid, incessant talk

Make small talk^[2]

Causer de tout et de rien

Bavarder / papoter

= to talk about unimportant things

Natter

Gossip

Cancaner / se raconter des potins

= to talk about the private affairs of others, often unkind^[3]

Blab

Vendre la mèche

= to disclose a secret

Blurt sthg out

Laisser échapper / lâcher

= to say a secret without thinking

3. Attitude

Mutter

Marmonner / grommeler / ronchonner

= to complain in a low voice, often speaking to oneself

Grumble

Rouspéter / ronchonner

= to complain in a bad-tempered way

Growl

Grogner / bougonner

= to speak in a low and angry voice

Bark

aboyer

= to shout at sbdy / to give orders aggressively

Snarl

Grogner / gronder

= to speak in an unpleasant tone of voice, out of bad temper or aggressiveness

Snort

Pouffer de rire / pousser un grognement de mépris

= to speak while making a noise with one’s nose

Yap

Japper / jacasser / caqueter

= to talk endlessly, in an annoying way

Rave

Délirer (péjoratif)

s’extasier sur

= to talk in an excited, uncontrolled way

Ramble on

Divaguer / blablater /

blablater

= to go/talk on and on for ages in a disordered, boring way

Drone on

Talk drivel

Raconter des balivernes

= to talk nonsense

4. Cris

Cry

Appeler / crier

= to call out in a loud voice

Cry out

S’écrier / crier

Shout

Crier / hurler

= to cry but implies words not just sounds

Yell

Crier / hurler

= to cry / cry out (un peu familier)

Scream

Crier / hurler

= very shrill, piercing sound

Shriek

Crier / hurler

= even more piercing !

Screech

Pousser un cri strident

= to shriek in a prolonged way

Squeal

Couiner / pousser un cri aigu

= to cry out in a shrill way, like a pig (can be out of excitement or pain/fear)

Yelp

Crier / Japper (chien)

= to give a short cry of fear or pain

Roar

Hurler / rugir /

Gronder / tonner / crier

= to shout sthg in a loud, angry voice

Thunder

Howl

Hurler

= to produce long, loud cries of anger, pain or unhappiness, like a wolf^[4]

Wail

Gémir / Brailler / Pleurer

= to cry out of grief (long and drawn-out^[5])

Bawl

Bellow

brailler

= to shout in a deep, hollow^[6] voice

Cheer

Pousser des cris d’encouragament

= to make sounds of encouragement or approval

Whoop

Crier de joie

= to make sounds of triumph