gesprochen

Gesprochen is the past participle of the German verb sprechen, meaning "to speak." It is used to form the perfect tenses with haben, as in Ich habe gesprochen, which translates to "I have spoken" or simply "I spoke." It is also used in passive constructions with werden, for example Es wird gesprochen, meaning "It is spoken" or "People are speaking."

In addition to its verbal use, gesprochen can function as an adjective or, when capitalized in certain contexts, as a noun. As an adjective it can describe nouns related to speech, for example gesprochenes Deutsch, meaning "spoken German" (as opposed to written German). As a noun, das Gesprochene refers to the act or content of speaking, or to spoken language in general.

Pronunciation is typically given as [ɡəˈʃpʁɔxən]. The form is invariable in the sense that it participates in composite tenses with auxiliary verbs, while its participle form can also appear with adjectival endings to agree with nouns, e.g., gesprochenes Deutsch.

Notes on usage: gesprochen is irregular in its formation because it is the participle of a strong verb. It should not be confused with the plain verb form sprechen in its finite tenses (ich spreche, du sprichst, er sprach). As with other German participles, its exact function—verbal vs. adjectival—determines its inflection and accompanying articles or endings.

See also: sprechen, participles in German, Sprech-/Sprach- related terms, Gesprochenes Deutsch.