Breakdown of Wir vermuten mal, dass sie darüber sprechen.
wir
we
sie
they
sprechen
to speak
mal
just, once (softening particle)
Questions & Answers about Wir vermuten mal, dass sie darüber sprechen.
What does the word mal add to this sentence?
In this sentence, mal acts as a conversational modal particle. It softens the verb vermuten (to suspect or guess). Instead of a firm or rigid 'We suspect', adding mal makes the statement sound much more casual, translating nicely to 'We're just taking a guess' or 'We suppose'.
Why does the verb sprechen go at the very end of the sentence?
The word dass (that) is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a dependent clause and forces the conjugated verb, which is sprechen here, to be kicked to the very end of that clause.
How does darüber translate to 'about it'?
In German, when you want to say 'about it', 'for it', or 'with it' regarding things or concepts, you use a da-word. The verb sprechen pairs with the preposition über (to talk about). Instead of saying über es (which sounds unnatural in German), you combine da, an extra r for smooth pronunciation, and über to make darüber.
How do we know sie means 'they' here, rather than 'she' or the formal 'You'?