/paʁle/

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Translation

to speak, to talk

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Word origin

From Late Latin parabolare ('to talk'), from parabola ('comparison, speech'), itself from Greek parabole ('a placing beside'). The English 'parable' and 'parabola' share this root.

Origin
Greek
Root
parabola
English cognates
parable, parabola, parley

Grammar

Verb type-er regular (1st group)

Conjugation

Regular -er conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.

Indicative

Person PresentImperfectPast historicFutureConditional
jeparleparlaisparlaiparleraiparlerais
tuparlesparlaisparlasparlerasparlerais
il/elleparleparlaitparlaparleraparlerait
nousparlonsparlionsparlâmesparleronsparlerions
vousparlezparliezparlâtesparlerezparleriez
ils/ellesparlentparlaientparlèrentparlerontparleraient

Subjunctive

Person PresentImperfect
jeparleparlasse
tuparlesparlasses
il/elleparleparlât
nousparlionsparlassions
vousparliezparlassiez
ils/ellesparlentparlassent

Imperative

Person Affirmative
tuparle
nousparlons
vousparlez

Non-finite

Gerund / present participle
parlant
Past participle
parlé · parlée · parlés · parlées

Examples

.

She has spoken three languages very well since childhood.

.

We need to talk about this problem seriously and calmly.

.

He never talks about his private life at the office.

- , ?

Could you speak more loudly, please?

.

They talked for hours on the telephone.

est un verbe du premier groupe, très régulier dans sa conjugaison. Il se distingue de dire (to say/tell) : parler insiste sur l'acte de communiquer ou de s'exprimer, dire sur le contenu transmis. On parle à quelqu'un (addressee) et parle de quelque chose (topic).

Parler français (sans article) désigne la compétence linguistique ; parler le français avec article est aussi correct mais moins courant. Se parler (to talk to each other) est la forme réciproque. Franchement parlant ou à proprement parler sont des locutions métalinguistiques soutenues.

Where this fits

Used in

Stories

(42)

Grammar articles

(26)

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French · Free printables

parler: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the French word "parler" (to speak, to talk): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

This word is taught in chapter 2, lesson 8: parler, toi, lui and 11 more words.