parle
The English phrase 'speaks' is translated into French as parle.
The verb is used to communicate using spoken words or to indicate the ability to use a particular language. The infinitive form of this verb is parler, which means 'to speak'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the present tense, the form parle is used for the first person singular (I speak / am speaking), the second person singular (you speak / are speaking – informal) and the third person singular (he/she/it speaks / is speaking). To say 'they speak', you must use the third person plural form parlent.
What mistakes should you avoid?
When you want to say 'he speaks', do not use the infinitive parler. Instead, use the conjugated form parle.
Did you know?
- The verb parler is used in the expression parler aux anges, which literally means 'to speak to the angels' and is a poetic euphemism for dying.
- In French, one can parler le bout des lèvres, which literally translates to 'speaking from the tip of the lips'. This idiom is used to describe someone who is speaking half-heartedly or without much conviction.
- The verb parler can be used as a noun in the phrase le parler, which refers to the specific dialect or manner of speaking characteristic of a particular region or social group.
Examples in context
- Qui parle russe ?Who speaks Russian?This sentence is useful for asking who has the ability to speak Russian using parle.Tatoeba #5762849 by Yemana, translation #5392385 by giiraffen
- Aucun ne me parle.Nobody speaks to me.This sentence shows how to use parle to express that no one is speaking to someone.Tatoeba #544085 by sacredceltic, translation #383956 by CK
- Il parle le russe.He speaks Russian.This sentence demonstrates how to use parle to state that someone speaks Russian.Tatoeba #806516 by sacredceltic, translation #842957 by J_S
- Elle parle françaisShe speaks French
- Il maîtrise l'anglaisHe speaks English fluently
- Elle s'exprime bien en espagnolShe expresses herself well in Spanish
- Parle-t-il anglais ?Does he speak English?
- Ma mère maîtrise le chinois.My mother speaks Chinese fluently.
- Il parle plusieurs languesHe speaks several languages
- Elle s'exprime bien en arabe et en français.She expresses herself well in Arabic and French.
- Je sais parler espagnolI know how to speak Spanish
- Ils savent parler l'anglais des affaires.They know how to speak business English.
- Marie sait jaser québécois malgré son accent français.Marie knows how to speak Quebecois despite her French accent.
- 500 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan is asking Manon about her language skills.
- NathanEst-ce que Manon parle anglais ?Does Manon speak English?
- ManonOui, je parle couramment anglais.Yes, I speak English fluently.
- NathanC'est super, car mon ami parle anglais.That's great, because my friend speaks English.
- ManonJe parle avec lui demain alors.I will speak with him tomorrow then.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
