Talk vs. Speech — What's the Difference?

Casual exchange of thoughts or information.

Expression of thoughts or opinions in spoken words.

Act of speaking informally.

Public speaking or oratory.

A lecture or presentation in an informal setting.

A prepared spoken presentation on a specific topic.

Dialogue between individuals or groups.

The ability to speak or express thoughts verbally.

Informal discussion or conversation.

Formal address or discourse delivered to an audience.

Speak in order to give information or express ideas or feelings; converse or communicate by spoken words

Speech is human vocal communication using language. Each language uses phonetic combinations of vowel and consonant sounds that form the sound of its words (that is, all English words sound different from all French words, even if they are the same word, e.g., "role" or "hotel"), and using those words in their semantic character as words in the lexicon of a language according to the syntactic constraints that govern lexical words' function in a sentence.

Use (a particular language) in speech

The expression of or the ability to express thoughts and feelings by articulate sounds

Communication by spoken words; conversation or discussion

A formal address or discourse delivered to an audience

Formal discussions or negotiations over a period

The faculty or act of speaking.

An informal address or lecture

The faculty or act of expressing or describing thoughts, feelings, or perceptions by the articulation of words.

To exchange thoughts or opinions in spoken or sign language; converse

What is spoken or expressed, as in conversation; uttered or written words

To utter or pronounce words

A talk or public address, or a written copy of this

To imitate the sounds of human speech

The language or dialect of a nation or region

To express one's thoughts or emotions by means of spoken language

One's manner or style of speaking

To convey one's thoughts in a way other than by spoken words

The study of oral communication, speech sounds, and vocal physiology.

To express one's thoughts or feelings in writing

(uncountable) The ability to speak; the faculty of uttering words or articulate sounds and vocalizations to communicate.

To convey information in text

(uncountable) The act of speaking, a certain style of it.

To negotiate with someone; parley

(countable) A formal session of speaking, especially a long oral message given publicly by one person.

To consult or confer with someone

(countable) A dialect, vernacular, or (dated) a language.

To spread rumors; gossip

(uncountable) Language used orally, rather than in writing.

To allude to something

(grammar) An utterance that is quoted; see direct speech, reported speech

To reveal information concerning oneself or others, especially under pressure

(uncountable) Public talk, news, gossip, rumour.

(Informal) To be efficacious

To make a speech; to harangue.

To utter or pronounce (words)

The faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words; the faculty of expressing thoughts by words or articulate sounds; the power of speaking.

To speak about or discuss (something) or give expression to (something)

He act of speaking; that which is spoken; words, as expressing ideas; language; conversation.

Used to emphasize the extent or seriousness of something being mentioned

A particular language, as distinct from others; a tongue; a dialect.

To speak or know how to speak (a language or a language variety)

Talk; mention; common saying.

To cause (someone) to be in a certain state or to do something by talking

Formal discourse in public; oration; harangue.

An exchange of ideas or opinions; a conversation

Ny declaration of thoughts.

A speech or lecture

To make a speech; to harangue.

Hearsay, rumor, or speculation

The act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience;

A subject of conversation

(language) communication by word of mouth;

Often talks A conference or negotiation

Something spoken;

A particular manner of speech

The exchange of spoken words;

Empty speech or unnecessary discussion

Your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally;

Jargon or slang

A lengthy rebuke;

Something, such as the sounds of animals, felt to resemble human talk

Words making up the dialogue of a play;

(intransitive) To communicate, usually by means of speech.

The mental faculty or power of vocal communication;

To discuss; to talk about.

(transitive) To speak (a certain language).

Used to emphasise the importance, size, complexity etc. of the thing mentioned.

To confess, especially implicating others.

(intransitive) To criticize someone for something of which one is guilty oneself.

(intransitive) To gossip; to create scandal.

A conversation or discussion; usually serious, but informal.

A lecture.

(uncountable) Gossip; rumour.

A major topic of social discussion.

A customary conversation by parent(s) or guardian(s) with their (often teenaged) child about a reality of life; in particular:

(US) A customary conversation in which the parent(s) of a black child explain the racism and violence they may face, especially when interacting with police, and strategies to manage it.

Empty boasting, promises or claims.

Meeting to discuss a particular matter.

To utter words; esp., to converse familiarly; to speak, as in familiar discourse, when two or more persons interchange thoughts.

To confer; to reason; to consult.

To prate; to speak impertinently.

To speak freely; to use for conversing or communicating; as, to talk French.

To deliver in talking; to speak; to utter; to make a subject of conversation; as, to talk nonsense; to talk politics.

To consume or spend in talking; - often followed by away; as, to talk away an evening.

To cause to be or become by talking.

The act of talking; especially, familiar converse; mutual discourse; that which is uttered, especially in familiar conversation, or the mutual converse of two or more.

Report; rumor; as, to hear talk of war.

Subject of discourse; as, his achievment is the talk of the town.

An exchange of ideas via conversation;

(`talk about' is a less formal alternative for `discussion of') discussion;

The act of giving a talk to an audience;

A speech that is open to the public;

Idle gossip or rumor;

Exchange thoughts; talk with;

Express in speech;

Use language;

Reveal information;

Divulge confidential information or secrets;

Deliver a lecture or talk;

Audience interaction is more common and expected in talk due to its interactive nature.

While speeches are typically formal, certain contexts or audiences may allow for a more informal approach.

Yes, talk can be considered a form of speech, especially when referring to informal presentations or discussions.

Preparation is crucial for a speech to ensure the message is clear and impactful, whereas talks may require less formal preparation.

Talk often uses colloquial language, while speech tends to use formal or sophisticated language.

Yes, talks emphasize conversational skills and adaptability, while speeches require strong public speaking and presentation skills.

Yes, anyone can give a talk or a speech, but the effectiveness may vary based on the individual's speaking skills and the audience's engagement.

Visual aids can be used in both, but are more commonly associated with speeches to enhance the message or information being delivered.

Talk is an informal conversation or discussion, while speech is a formal presentation or address to an audience.

Yes, talks usually aim to exchange ideas or solve problems through interaction, while speeches aim to inform, persuade, or entertain a larger audience.

Larger audience sizes often necessitate a speech to effectively communicate to everyone, while smaller groups may benefit from the intimacy of a talk.

Yes, talks are generally less structured and more spontaneous than speeches.

Feedback is more immediate in talks due to the interactive nature of the conversation.

Talks may engage the audience more personally and interactively, while speeches aim to engage on a broader or more emotional level.

Yes, the setting plays a significant role in determining the appropriateness of a talk or a speech, with formal settings leaning towards speeches.