Spoken
'spəʊkən
Definitions
Expressed in words; uttered.
'spəʊkən
Having been expressed in speech.
The words spoken in the classroom needed no explanation.
💡 Simply: Like when you say something out loud! If you've *spoken* to your friend, it means you've talked to them. It's what comes out of your mouth!
👶 For kids: When you say words out loud, like when you talk to your friends!
More Examples
She regretted the words she'd spoken in anger.
Many languages are spoken in the city.
How It's Used
"The words spoken were meant to be encouraging."
"The issues spoken about at the meeting were important."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
well-spoken
Able to speak clearly and effectively; articulate.
"He's a well-spoken individual, making him a great candidate for the job."
silence is golden, speech is silver
Sometimes it's better to remain silent than to speak.
"After the argument, I realized that silence is golden, speech is silver, and I should have just kept my mouth shut."
From Old English 'gesprecen', past participle of 'sprecan' (to speak).
The word 'spoken' has existed since Old English, and has remained a common past participle of 'speak' throughout the evolution of the English language. It frequently appears in religious and legal texts, as these required clear and formally expressed language.
Memory tip
Think of a speech that has been given. The words were spoken.
Word Origin
"to speak"