spreken

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch sprēken, from Old Dutch sprecan, from Proto-West Germanic *sprekan, from Proto-Germanic *sprekaną.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈspreːkə(n)/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: spre‧ken
  • Rhymes: -eːkən

Verb

spreken

  1. (transitive or intransitive) to speak
    Synonym: praten
    Hij spreekt vloeiend Nederlands.He speaks Dutch fluently.
    Ik kan niet spreken als ik mijn mond vol heb.I can't speak when my mouth is full.
    Kun je luider spreken? Ik hoor je niet goed.Can you speak louder? I can't hear you well.
    Ze sprak met enthousiasme over haar nieuwe baan.She spoke with enthusiasm about her new job.

Conjugation

Conjugation of spreken (strong class 4)
infinitive spreken
past singular sprak
past participle gesproken
infinitive spreken
gerund spreken n
present tense past tense
1st person singular spreek sprak
2nd person sing. (jij) spreekt, spreek2 sprak
2nd person sing. (u) spreekt sprak
2nd person sing. (gij) spreekt spraakt
3rd person singular spreekt sprak
plural spreken spraken
subjunctive sing.1 spreke sprake
subjunctive plur.1 spreken spraken
imperative sing. spreek
imperative plur.1 spreekt
participles sprekend gesproken
1) Archaic. 2) In case of inversion.

Derived terms

adjectives
  • spreekvaardig
verbs

Descendants

  • Afrikaans: spreek
  • Jersey Dutch: sprêke
  • Negerhollands: spreek

Low German

Etymology

From Old Saxon sprekan. Cognate to Dutch spreken, German sprechen, West Frisian sprekke, English speak.

Verb

spreken (past singular sprook, past participle sproken, auxiliary verb hebben)

  1. to speak

Conjugation

Conjugation of spreken (class 4 strong verb)
infinitive spreken
present preterite
1st person singular spreek sprook
2nd person singular spricks(t) sprooks(t)
3rd person singular sprick(t) sprook
plural spreekt, spreeken sproken
imperative
singular spreek
plural spreekt
present past
participle spreken (e)sproken, gesproken

Note: This conjugation is one of many.
Neither its grammar nor spelling apply to all dialects.

Synonyms

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch sprecan, from Proto-West Germanic *sprekan.

Verb

sprēken

  1. to speak, to say
  2. to speak/talk to

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Derived terms

Descendants

Further reading