How to say "speech" in Japanese

• 話はなしJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounCovers 'speech' only in the loose sense of talk or what someone says; its core meanings are conversation, chat, and story. It is not the word for a formal address to an audience.
  人ひとの話はなしに水みずを差ささないでくれ。↗

  Don't throw a wet blanket over our conversation.
• 音声おんせいCommon
  nounRefers to speech as sound — the voice itself rather than the act of speaking to people. Use it when the concern is audio or the physical voice, not a public address.
• 弁べんCommon
  nounDenotes eloquence or the tongue — the power of speech — rather than a speech event. On its own it is seldom the word you want for 'speech'; think of eloquence, not an address.
• 演説えんぜつJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA formal speech or address delivered to an audience, typically on political or public occasions. Choose it for set-piece speechmaking rather than casual remarks.
  我々われわれは彼かれに演説えんぜつを頼たのんだ。↗

  We called upon him for a speech.
• スピーチJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe everyday loanword for a speech as an act of addressing listeners — wedding toasts, remarks at parties or ceremonies. When you simply mean giving a speech, this is usually the word you want.
  私わたしたちは彼かれにスピーチを頼たのんだ。↗

  We called on him for a speech.

For a public address choose 「スピーチ」 (general occasions) or 演説 (formal, political); use 話 for talk or conversation, 音声 for speech as sound or voice, and 弁 only for eloquence.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 話はなしtalk
• 音声おんせいvoice
• 弁べんspeech
• 演説えんぜつspeech
• スピーチspeech
• 言論げんろん(one's) speech
• 言葉遣いことばづかいspeech
• 講演こうえんlecture
• 弁舌べんぜつspeech
• 口上こうじょうvocal message
• 一席いっせきsitting
• 言辞げんじlanguage
• 発言はつげんstatement
• 口くmouth
• 発語はつごspeech
• 言葉付きことばつきspeech
• 弁口べんこうspeech
• 辞じaddress (e.g. opening or closing remarks)
• 発話はつわutterance
• 舌頭ぜっとうtip of the tongue
• 言葉ことばspeech
• 語ごspeech
• 挨拶あいさつspeech (congratulatory or appreciative)
• 話法わほうnarration
• 舌端ぜったんone's words
• 口くちspeaking