Thread: Difference of meaning between выражать и высказать

If any...

express an idea?

is there a shade of meaning between them

выражать // выразить

высказывать // высказать

If "express an idea", then there's no difference. However, if you выражаешь идею, it means you make it put this way or another, and when you высказываешь идею, you just say something occured to you.

You are making it more complicated than it is, Rtyom

Here's what Mr Ozhegov thinks:


высказать = to express something in words

выразить = to express something anyhow (in words, by your angry face, by some gesture, by your manners, by screaming etc.)

Simple translation would help:

Высказывать - to speak out
(Prefix Вы (out) + сказывать - to speak)
Выражать - to express

Originally Posted by Vadim84

You are making it more complicated than it is, Rtyom

Here's what Mr Ozhegov thinks:


высказать = to express something in words

выразить = to express something anyhow (in words, by your angry face, by some gesture, by your manners, by screaming etc.)

I applied it to ideas.