speaking
/ˈspi.kɪŋ/adjective, noun, interjection, verb
speaking is spelled S-P-E-A-K-I-N-G: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 81 times per million words in written English, the 1,302nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, speaking means “Used in speaking” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in speaking?
| Letters | 8: S-P-E-A-K-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 81 times per million words; the 1,302nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is speaking?
Speaking appears 81 times per million words in written English, the 1,302nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce speaking?
- UK /ˈspiː.kɪŋ/
- US /ˈspi.kɪŋ/
- Australia /ˈspiː.kɪŋ/
Speaking has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-speaking.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of speaking
- speakings plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does speaking mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Used in speaking.
one's normal speaking voice
- 2
Expressive; eloquent.
The sight was more speaking than any speech could be.
- 3
Involving speaking.
It was her first speaking part: she screamed.
- 4
Having the ability of speech.
speaking parrot; speaking clock
- 5
Having competence in a language.
The English-speaking gentleman gave us directions.
noun
- 1
One's ability to communicate vocally in a given language.
I can read and understand most texts in German, but my speaking is awful.
- 2
The act of communicating vocally.
- 3
A speaking exercise or exam.
- 4
An oral recitation of e.g. a story.
interjection
- 1
Indication that the person requested is the same as the one who is currently speaking.
verb
- 1
present participle and gerund of speak
Who is that speaking? -Hi. This is José García (speaking).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Speaking in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Sprech-, Sprach- , -sprachig, -sprechend, sprechend , Sprechen |
| French | parole |
| Spanish | oratoria, habla, fabla (disused) |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does speaking come from?
From Middle English spekinge, spekynge, spekinde, spekende, spekande, spekand, from Old English specende, sprecende (“speaking”), from Proto-Germanic *sprekandz (“speaking”), present participle of Proto-Germanic *sprekaną (“to speak”). Equivalent to speak + -ing. Cognate with Scots speikand, speikin (“speaking”), Saterland Frisian spreekend (“speaking”), West Frisian sprekkend (“speaking”), Dutch sprekend (“speaking”), German Low German sprekend (“speaking”), German sprechend (“speaking”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).