Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| говори́ть | govorítʹ | imperfective |
| разгова́ривать | razgovárivatʹ | imperfective |
| бесе́довать | besédovatʹ | imperfective |
| болта́ть | boltátʹ | colloquial, imperfective |
The term говори́ть is the most general and widely used way to express the idea of talking or speaking. It is the standard verb used to indicate the ability to speak a language. While it covers the general act of talking, other verbs like общаться emphasize the broader concept of communicating or interacting.
Which one should you use?
While говори́ть is the general term for speaking, разгова́ривать implies a more continuous or repetitive process of engaging in a conversation. If you want to suggest a more formal, polite or structured conversation, use бесе́довать. For light, informal and often aimless talking, you might use болта́ть.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
болта́ть is a colloquial term often used to describe idle chatter or gossiping. In contrast, бесе́довать is used for more formal or polite conversations.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present tense of говори́ть is говори́т (he/she/it talks/speaks). All provided forms are imperfective.
How do you pronounce it?
govorítʹ
Did you know?
- If someone is talking too much or nonsensically, a Russian might say they are болта́ть зуба́ми, which literally translates to 'to chatter with one's teeth'.
- In Russian, the verb болта́ть can also mean 'to swing' or 'to shake', such as an object hanging loosely. This connection between aimless chatter and the physical movement of an object is a common linguistic link.
- Russian has a specific word собеседова́ние, derived from the formal verb бесе́довать, which specifically means a 'job interview'.
Examples in context
- Нам нужно поговорить завтра.We need to talk tomorrow.
- Мне нравится с ней разговаривать.I enjoy talking to her.
- Давайте поговорим о наших планах.Let's talk about our plans.
- Пойдем попьем кофе и поболтаем!Let's go grab a coffee and talk!
- Дети трепались и смеялись всю ночь.The kids were talking and laughing all night.
- Она хочет с тобой говори́ть.Ona khochet s toboy govorit'.She wants to talk to you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “talk” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
