What Russian verbs do you know to describe people talking? Russian has a few ways of talking about communication, and this post will mention six common ways of referring to that activity.

1. Говори́ть

Говори́ть (imperf.)/сказа́ть (perf.) is probably the first verb that comes to mind. This verb may serve as an equivalent of “to say,” “to tell,” or “to speak,” depending on the situation. A common pattern for this verb is говори́ть/сказа́ть + что? (accusative) + кому́? (dative for the listener):

• Он сказа́л нам пра́вду (He told us the truth).

Говори́ть may also be used to talk about speaking a language, while сказа́ть cannot:

• Я не говорю́ по-францу́зски (I don’t speak French).

Finally, говори́ть but not сказа́ть may be used to describe people talking to each other. The perfective equivalent here would be поговори́ть.

• Игроки́ поговори́ли с тре́нером (The players spoke to their coach).

2. Разгова́ривать

This is a fun imperfective verb because, in this sense, it does not have a perfective counterpart. Разгова́ривать is equivalent to the last sense of говори́ть explained above and means “to be talking to someone.” It can be used intransitively (without an object) or with с + instrumental case.

• Пацие́нт разгова́ривает с врачо́м (The patient’s talking to the physician).

3. Рассказа́ть

Расска́зывать (imperf.)/рассказа́ть (perf.) also means “to tell,” but it is different from говори́ть in what may follow it. Говори́ть is usually followed either by a direct quote or a paraphrase. Рассказа́ть usually refers to a more involved story:

• Мы рассказа́ли роди́телям, что мы уви́дели в це́нтре го́рода (We told our parents what we saw in the city center/re).

4. Бесе́довать

Бесе́да is the word for a pleasant conversation. Бесе́довать (imperf.)/побесе́довать (perf.) means “to talk,” “to converse.” It can be used alone or followed by с + instrumental (for the person) and/or о + prepositional (for the subject of the conversation).

• Он по-пре́жнему люби́л бесе́довать с дво́рниками и лифтёрами (He still liked talking with janitors and elevator operators). [Васи́лий Гроссман. Жизнь и судьба́, часть 3 (1960)]

5. Болта́ть

Болта́ть/поболта́ть is somewhat more colloquial and means “to chat,” “to have a friendly conversation.” This verb literally means “to wag” or “to shake.” A chatterbox is болту́н (m.)/болту́нья (f.). This verb, too, can be used alone or followed by с or о.

• Вы же ви́дите, ско́лько люде́й болта́ют на э́ту те́му (You see how many people are chatting about this topic). [Михаи́л Горбачев, Андре́й Арха́нгельский. «На́до измени́ть атмосфе́ру» // «Огонёк», 2015]

6. Обща́ться

Обща́ться (imperf.)/пообща́ться (perf.) is similar to “communicate,” “converse,” or “talk.” This may refer to an actual verbal statement or just the fact of someone being in touch or not. This verb shares the root with о́бщий, common. It can also be used alone or followed by с/о.

• В после́дние го́ды её жи́зни мы ма́ло обща́лись ― ну, ра́зве и́зредка по телефо́ну (In the final years of her life we barely talked ― only sometimes over the phone). [И. Э. Кио. Иллю́зии без иллю́зий (1995-1999)]