learn to talk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "learn to talk" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the process of acquiring speaking skills, often in the context of children or language learners. Example: "Children typically learn to talk by imitating the sounds they hear from adults." Alternative expressions include "acquire speaking skills" and "develop verbal communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The movies didn't just learn to talk.

The New York Times

"Good managers learn to talk to people.

The Guardian

"I wanted to help him learn to talk to girls".

The New York Times

We learn to walk way before we learn to talk.

The Guardian

When, though, will Mitt Romney learn to talk about sports?

The New Yorker

We didn't even know if he'd ever learn to talk.

The New York Times

To improve speech intelligibility, the patient may learn to talk more slowly and more deliberately.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They are "too busy" to help their children learn to talk, it was suggested.

Independent

You don't learn to approach women, you learn to talk to people.

Independent

They've suffered traumatic brain injury and have to learn to talk all over again".

The New York Times

Far worse could follow unless its politicians learn to talk to each other.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic or scientific writing, consider more precise terms such as "language acquisition" or "speech development" for greater technical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "learn to talk" when you specifically mean learning a second language like French or Spanish; in those cases, "learn a language" or "learn to speak" followed by the language name is more precise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "learn to talk" functions as a verb phrase where the main verb "learn" is followed by a to-infinitive functioning as a direct object. According to Ludwig, it is structurally standard and widely accepted in all forms of written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "learn to talk" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct expression used to describe the process of acquiring verbal skills. With over 60 verified examples in the Ludwig database, it maintains a 100% match rate across high-authority sources including The New York Times and various scientific publications. Ludwig AI confirms that while it is most commonly used to discuss early childhood development, it is also frequently applied to medical rehabilitation and social skill-building. While synonyms like ""learn to speak"" are available, "learn to talk" remains the preferred choice for natural, neutral communication regarding the fundamental human ability to converse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

learn to speak

Slightly more formal and often used when referring to a specific language or formal address

acquire language

A more technical and academic way to describe the cognitive process of communication

develop speech

Commonly used in clinical or pediatric contexts to focus on the physical and neurological growth

start speaking

Focuses on the chronological onset of verbalization rather than the learning process itself

express oneself verbally

Focuses on the output and the ability to convey thoughts through words

master communication

Emphasizes the proficiency and effectiveness of the skill rather than the basic ability

gain verbal skills

A functional description typically used in educational or rehabilitative settings

begin to vocalize

Describes the physiological act of making sounds, often in a scientific or biological context

find one's voice

A metaphorical variation often used in literary or personal growth contexts

pick up a language

An informal way to describe learning to communicate through immersion rather than formal study

FAQs

How do I use "learn to talk" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the process of gaining speech, as in: "Children typically "learn to talk" by age two."

What can I say instead of "learn to talk"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "acquire language", "develop speech", or ""learn to speak"".

What is the difference between "learn to talk" and "learn to speak"?

While often interchangeable, ""learn to talk"" is more conversational and focuses on the social act of communicating, whereas ""learn to speak"" can sound more formal or refer to specific languages.

Is it correct to say "learn talking" or "learn to talk"?

The phrase ""learn to talk"" is the standard grammatical form using the infinitive, while "learn talking" is generally considered incorrect in standard English.