spreken

Dutch

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈspreːkə(n)/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: spre‧ken
• Rhymes: -eːkən

Verb

spreken

1. (transitive or intransitive) to speak

Inflection

Inflection 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	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.

Synonyms

• praten

Derived terms

• aanspreken
• afspreken
• bespreken
• gesprek
• inspreken
• spreekstalmeester
• spreektaal
• tegenspreken
• uitspreken
• vanzelfsprekend
• verspreken
• vrijspreken

Related terms

• spraak

Descendants

• Afrikaans: spreek

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Low German

Etymology

From Old Saxon sprekan, from Proto-Germanic *sprekaną. Cognate to Dutch spreken, German sprechen, West Frisian sprekke, English speak.

Verb

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

1. to speak

Conjugation

Conjugation of spreken (class 4 strong verb)

infinitive	spreken
indicative	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	present	—
singular	spreek
plural	spreekt
participle	present	past
	spreken	(e)spraken, gespraken
Note: This conjugation is one of many; neither its grammar nor spelling apply to all dialects.

Synonyms

• snacken

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Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch sprecan, from Proto-Germanic *sprekaną.

Verb

sprēken

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

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Derived terms

• besprēken

Descendants

• Dutch: spreken
• Limburgish: spraeke

Further reading

• “spreken (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929) , “spreken (I)”, in Middelniederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I