It's in the meaning, really. I speak English. I speak with my mother. Speak up for your rights. etc. I tell you the truth. Tell me a story. You didn't tell me your phone number. etc.

"Speak" is like Italian "parlare", while "tell" is "dire" or "raccontare". I speak to you = parlo con te I tell you = ti dico/ti racconto

Tell / Told Tell means “to give information to a person” – so tell (present) and told (past) are always followed by a person. Ex: - Tell me about the movie. Did you like it? - Peter, I told you not to eat any cookies before dinner! Speak / Spoke Use speak (present) and spoke (past) with languages, and with talking in general (no specific details). - I speak English. - Does Donna speak Italian? - We spoke to the boss this morning. (general conversation, no specific details) - I need to speak with you about the new project. (general topic, no details). Good Luck :)