speak to

English

Verb

to speak to (phrasal verb)

1. (idiomatic) To give evidence regarding something; to attest for.
   • 2006, Staff of Vault, The College Buzz Book, page 176:

     This definitely speaks to the fact that at Georgetown, beginning at the admissions process, you're not a number but a real person.

2. (idiomatic) To address a particular topic.
   • 1981, McGill journal of education: 

     Education for being speaks to what grows within the person himself

3. (idiomatic) To (figuratively) resonate with, to feel emotionally relevant to.

   His music really speaks to me.

Usage notes

These usages are in addition to the main (and not idiomatic) usage meaning "to address one's words to (someone)".

Translations

to give evidence regarding something

• Finnish: osoittaa (fi), perustella (fi)

• Latin: alloquor (la), colloquor (la), affor (la)

to address a particular topic

• Finnish: käsitellä (fi)

• Latin: alloquor (la), colloquor (la)

to resonate with

• Finnish: puhutella (fi)

• Latin: alloquor (la), colloquor (la)