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Puhua and Speaking – Closely-Related Verbs

There are many verbs related to the verb puhua. They express differences such as the sound and volume of the voice, the emotion behind it, or the situation where the talking takes place. If you’re new to Finnish, you might want to check out our article about the difference between sanoa, puhua and kertoa first!

Finnish English
puhua to speak, to talk
sanoa to say
kertoa to tell
Virallisempi More official
kommunikoida to communicate
ilmaista itsensä to express oneself
välittää viesti to convey a message
tiedottaa to report
ilmoittaa to inform
väittää to claim
todeta to state
huomauttaa to point out
muistuttaa to remind
kuvailla to portray
kuvata to describe
selittää to explain
esittää ajatus to present an idea
mainita to mention
lausua mielipide to express an opinion
haastatella to interview
pitää puhe to give a speech
ottaa puheeksi to broach a subject
väitellä to argue, to debate
kiistellä to dispute, to discuss
neuvotella to negotiate
neuvoa to advise
vaatia to demand
kysyä to ask
pyytää to request
anella to repeatedly ask, beg
saarnata to lecture
paljastaa to reveal
huokaista to sigh
ihmetellä to wonder
Keskustelu Conversation
keskustella to chat
jutella to chat (spoken)
rupatella to chat (spoken)
pakista to chat (rare)
tarinoida to swap stories
Voimakkuus Volume
huutaa to yell
huutaa apua to scream for help
huudahtaa to exclaim
huudella to shout something
puhua lujaa to talk loudly
karjua to bellow (loud, rough voice)
ärjyä to bellow, to roar
kirkua to screech (loud, piercing voice)
kiljua to shriek (loud, shrill voice)
huikata to call out
kuiskata to whisper
kuiskailla to whisper something
supattaa to whisper together
Epäselvästi Unclear – Nonsense
mumista to mumble (speak unclearly)
mongertaa speak incomprehensibly
jokeltaa to babble (baby)
jaaritella to ramble on
höpistä to babble
höpöttää to waffle on
höpsiä to talk nonsense
mutista to mutter (unhappily)
Huonotahtoinen Bad-Willed
riidellä to quarrel
kinastella to squabble, bicker
moittia to criticize
nimitellä to call names
haukkua to insult
solvata to insult, abuse
sättiä to rail against, berate
herjata to slander
huhuta to rumor
juoruta to gossip
juoruilla to gossip (more)
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