Definition
To speak or talk; to tell or explain something to someone.
Example
彼女は毎日英語で話す練習をしている。
Show translation
She practices speaking in English every day.
Etymology
From Old Japanese *hanasu*, a causative/transitive derivation from *hanaru* (to separate, let go). The core idea of "releasing" words — letting speech leave one's mouth — underlies the root. The same root appears in 放す (hanasu, to release/let free), and the two words remain homophones in modern Japanese, a reminder of their shared semantic ancestry.
Cultural note
Japanese has distinct verbs for the *manner* of speaking: 話す (hanasu) is the general word for talking or conversing, while 言う (iu) means to say/utter a specific thing, and しゃべる (shaberu) carries a more casual or chatty nuance. Choosing the wrong verb can sound slightly off to a native ear, so hanasu is the safest all-purpose choice for "speaking with someone."