Verbs to Speak in French: How Do You Say It?

01/23/2026 Learning & Grammer created by Sprachcaffe Team

Do you want to speak French? Well, then you'll definitely need to know the verb to speak in French! Jokes aside, the verb "parler" is one of the most common in the French language, and knowing it is essential to be able to formulate simple basic concepts, as well as more elaborate sentences: in short, it represents one of the pillars of the language's vocabulary, knowledge of which It is therefore essential to obtain the right fluency in the spoken language.

French grammar is certainly not the best known for ease, but thanks to this Sprachcaffe lesson you have nothing to worry about: together we will delve into everything you need to know about this verb in order to acquire complete knowledge, and thus move on see you next time to expand your French skills and vocabulary more and more.

Let's not waste time talking, therefore, and discover the conjugation of the verb to speak in French and all the characteristics that distinguish it, when it is used and in what ways.

Verbs to Speak in French: How Do You Say It?

The verb to talk in French translates, very simply, to "parler". This incredible similarity with the Italian language is due to the fact that both are Romance languages, meaning that they derive directly from Latin.

It is not the first nor the last time that we will find similarities between dictionaries: just think of words coma amour, musique and livre, which remain practically identical even in Italian and which we can translate automatically, even without in-depth knowledge of the language.

This already simplifies our life a lot when it comes to learning the language: in short, we are already at an advantage.

Furthermore, another advantage that distinguishes the verb speak in French is that it belongs to the regular verbs of the first conjugation, which end in "-ER".

This means, therefore, that it follows the conjugation without any particular changes.

There is certainly no shortage of irregular verbs in French grammar, but fortunately for us, parole is not one of them: therefore, the endings that it will gradually acquire in its conjugation will be those typical of the conjugation itself, without complicating our life.

Conjugation of the Verb to Speak in French

Having said that, we just have to delve deeper into the conjugation of the verb to speak in French and discover how it behaves in all the moods and verb tenses of the language, which are quite a few.

Since it is a regular conjugation, there is no need for you to learn it by heart: you just need to know the corresponding endings of the first conjugation to be able to form the various tenses in the various persons, singular or plural.

Let us therefore begin to explore the conjugation of the verb to speak, starting from the manner.

person	here	imperfect	past simple	past tense	pluperfect	past tense
I	speak	I was speaking	I spoke	I spoke	had spoken	had spoken
you	speak	I was speaking	parlas	you spoke	had spoken	had spoken
he/she	speak	spoke	spoke	spoke	had spoken	had spoken
We	let's talk	let's talk	we spoke	we spoke	we had spoken	we had spoken
You	speak	spoke	spoke	you spoke	had spoken	had spoken
they	speak	were talking	spoke	spoke	had spoken	had spoken

future	future perfect
I will speak	would have spoken
will speak	will have spoken
will speak	would have spoken
we will talk	we will have spoken
will speak	will have spoken
will speak	will have spoken

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Subjunctive

person	here	imperfect	past simple	pluperfect
I	speak	I was speaking	I spoke	had spoken
you	speak	I was speaking	parlas	had spoken
he/she	speak	spoke	spoke	had spoken
We	let's talk	let's talk	we spoke	we had spoken
You	speak	spoke	spoke	had spoken
they	speak	were talking	spoke	had spoken

Conditional

person	here	pass
I	would speak	would have spoken
you	would speak	would have spoken
he/she	would speak	would have spoken
We	we would speak	would have spoken
You	we would speak	would you have spoken
they	would speak	would have spoken

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Imperative

person	imperative
I	-
you	speak
he/she	-
We	let's talk
You	speak
they

The infinite of parler is, of course, parler.

As regards the participant, we have the form "parlant" in the present and "parlé" in the past. Furthermore, we have already been able to see the latter in use in the compound forms of the other verb moods and tenses.

Conjugation and Example Sentences

Now that we know the verb to speak in French in all its possible forms, all we have to do is see it in action! Let's insert it into some contexts to discover how it behaves within a sentence, learn to recognize it and become familiar with its conjugation.

We talked about our future plans.
She spoke to him yesterday.
They talked about their dreams.
I speak French.
You will talk to your mother later.
They talk about politics.
Did you talk to your sister?
Will you talk to your teacher?
We 're talking about our past holidays.
He/She will talk about his/her trip.
Did you talk about your work?
He/She talks with his/her friend.
You talk a lot.
They talk about their experiences.
I will speak with you tomorrow.

In conclusion, mastering the appropriate verbs is pivotal for effective communication in French. This article has explored a diverse range of verbs, from essential conjugations to nuanced expressions, equipping readers with the tools to express themselves accurately and fluently.

By understanding the nuances and context behind each verb choice, learners can elevate their proficiency in French conversation, unlocking a world of expression and connection. With practice and dedication, harnessing the power of verbs will undoubtedly enrich both linguistic competence and cultural appreciation for the French language.

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