# speaking

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈspiː.kɪŋ/ · frequency rank #1,320

## Definitions
1. Used in speaking.
2. Expressive; eloquent.
3. Involving speaking.
4. Having the ability of speech.
5. Having the ability of speech.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **spewing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-spewing)
- **staking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-staking)
- **spiking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-spiking)
- **spending** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-spending)
- **stealing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-stealing)
- **spelling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-spelling)
- **speeding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-speeding)
- **sweating** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-sweating)
- **swearing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-swearing)
- **spraying** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-spraying)
- **steaming** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-steaming)
- **spreading** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-spreading)
- **streaking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-streaking)
- **squeaking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaking-vs-squeaking)
- **seeking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seeking-vs-speaking)
- **shaking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaking-vs-speaking)
- **seating** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seating-vs-speaking)
- **sealing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sealing-vs-speaking)
- **soaking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/soaking-vs-speaking)
- **spacing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spacing-vs-speaking)

## Common misspellings (12)
`pseaking`, `sepaking`, `spaeking`, `speaikng`, `speakign`, `speakingg`, `speakinng`, `speakking`, `speaknig`, `spekaing`, `sppeaking`, `sspeaking`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/speaking