Give a speech means to speak formally to an audience. It is usually a prepared address at a wedding, a ceremony, a conference or a meeting. Make a speech means the same.
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give/make a speech; give a speech on/about + topic; give a speech at + event
- The CEO gave a short speech at the start of the conference.
- I have to give a speech at my sister's wedding, and I'm terrified.
- Each student will give a five-minute speech about a famous scientist.
What changed
First versionAt the wedding, my father said a beautiful speech.
RevisionAt the wedding, my father gave a beautiful speech.
Say can seem like the obvious verb for speaking, but in English say introduces the actual words: He said that he was proud of us. A whole speech isn't said, it is given or made: give a speech, make a speech.
A speech marks an occasion: a welcome, a toast, an address at a ceremony. At work, a report with slides is a presentation, and when an expert speaks about their subject, for example at a conference, it is a talk. At work I give presentations every week, but last Saturday I gave a speech at my brother's wedding.
Your turn
At the end of the year, the manager ___ a short speech to thank the whole team.
Show the answer
gave — Speech goes with give and make, so here it is gave a short speech. Said a speech isn't English: say doesn't combine with speech.
Write about a time you gave a speech. Say what the occasion was and who your audience was.
Last month I gave a speech at my grandmother's eightieth birthday in front of about forty relatives.
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