How to Say "Speak" in Persian

صحبت کردن

/suh.ˈbat kar.ˈdan/word by word

To speak in Persian is صحبت کردن.

The phrase is used to indicate the ability to communicate in a language.

Meaning: to be able to communicate in a language (verb)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase صحبت کردن is composed of the noun صحبت, meaning conversation or talk and the verb کردن, meaning to do or make.

While صحبت کردن is the standard way to say to speak or to have a conversation, حرف زدن is a more colloquial and often more casual alternative.

The past tense of the phrase is formed by adding the past stem of کردن and the personal ending, resulting in صحبت کردم.

The word صحبت comes from the Arabic word for 'friendship' or 'accompaniment'. In Persian, this means that the act of speaking is fundamentally linked to the idea of being in the company of others.
In Persian culture, the way one 'speaks' depends heavily on the social hierarchy. Using the wrong form of صحبت کردن or its alternatives can accidentally signal a lack of respect to an elder or superior.

صحبت کردن با دهان پر بی‌ادبانه است.
It is rude to speak with your mouth full.
Tatoeba #9866668 by sinakd, translation #240526 by CC
او هنر صحبت‌کردن را خوب یاد گرفت.
He/she learned the art of speaking well.
چرا از این موضوع حرف نمی‌زنی؟
Why don't you speak about this issue?

Sara and Amir are meeting for the first time at a party.

سارا Sara

سلام، شما به زبان فارسی صحبت کردن بلدید؟
Salam, shoma be zabane Farsi sohbat kardan baladid?
Hello, do you know how to speak Persian?
امیر Amir

بله، من کمی صحبت می‌کنم.
Bale, man kami sohbat mikonam.
Yes, I speak a little.
سارا Sara

خیلی خوب است، امیر!
Kheyli khoob ast, Amir!
That is very good, Amir!
امیر Amir

ممنونم، سارا.
Mamnoonam, Sara.
Thank you, Sara.

Sources

IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (صحبت, کردن) and can differ in connected speech.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries صحبت, کردن, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏