sprechen

Sprechen is a German verb meaning to speak or to talk. It is used in everyday language to refer to the act of verbal communication, as well as in phrases that describe speaking more generally. The noun das Sprechen denotes the act of speaking or speech and can be contrasted with Sprache, which refers more to language or the ability to speak.

The verb sprechen is irregular. In the present tense, the forms are ich spreche, du sprichst, er spricht, wir sprechen, ihr sprecht, sie sprechen. The simple past is expressed with sprach (ich sprach, du sprachst, er sprach, etc.), while the perfect tense uses haben with gesprochen (ich habe gesprochen). The future is formed with werden, as in ich werde sprechen. The subjunctive forms include Konjunktiv I: ich spreche, er spreche, and Konjunktiv II: ich spräche, er spräche. The imperative forms are Sprich! (informal singular), Sprecht! (informal plural), and Sprechen Sie! (formal).

Common verbal constructions include mit jemandem sprechen (to speak to someone), über etwas sprechen (to talk about something), and related idioms such as sich auszutauschen oder zu sprechen. The word Sprechen also appears in compounds and terms such as Sprechstunde (consultation hours), Sprechstimme (a speech-like vocal technique used in music), and Sprechakt (a speech act in linguistics).

In linguistic analysis, Sprechen is distinguished from Sprache to reflect the difference between speaking as action and language as system. The term remains central in grammar textbooks, dictionaries, and discussions of communication in German.