“Say” vs. “Talk”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “say” and “talk”

  • "Say" is usually used when someone is conveying information or instructions, whereas "talk" is used when people are engaging in communication.
  • "Say" can be more one-sided, while "talk" involves a two-way dialogue.
  • "Say" is more about the words themselves, while "talk" puts more emphasis on the act of communication.
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What is the definition of “say” and “talk”?

Say
  • To express something in words or speech.
  • It is often used to convey information or instructions.
  • "Say" is generally used when the focus is on the actual words being spoken.
Talk
  • To communicate through spoken words.
  • It involves a two-way conversation between two or more people.
  • "Talk" is generally used when the focus is on the act of communicating, rather than the specific words being spoken.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Talk” is the more popular variant on the web.
Say
4,120,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. Say what's on your mind.
  2. My father used to say that all the time.
  3. I can't believe he didn't say anything about it.
More popular
Talk
4,980,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. Let's talk about something else.
  2. I really need to talk to you about something important.
  3. My boss loves to talk about her vacations.
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