In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Groot does something he has never done before: speak English. Throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Groot has only ever said, “I am Groot,” but in the latest film, he says, “I love you guys” at the end. This article explores the possible explanations for why Groot spoke English for the first time.

Theory Explained: Groot Didn’t Speak English In Guardians Of The Galaxy 3

The stylistic choice to have Groot speak another language and not include subtitles was made by writer-director James Gunn for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1. However, this doesn’t mean Gunn and voice actor Vin Diesel don’t know what Groot is saying. In 2016, Gunn revealed that he gave Diesel a version of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 script that included the English translations of Groot’s lines. For the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 scene where Groot speaks English, it’s possible this was another stylistic choice made by Gunn to finally let the viewer hear what Groot is actually saying.

Groot Speaking English Has Precedence In The Comics

There is precedence for Groot speaking English in the comics. When Groot was first introduced as a villain in the Marvel Comics, he was able to speak English fluently. However, when he was retooled as a hero, his vocabulary was reduced to “I am Groot.” In the 2018 comics series Infinity Countdown, Groot was changed to have a much wider vocabulary. So, it’s possible that Groot really did speak English in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Why Groot Spoke English For The First Time In GOTG 3

Gunn has not yet explained his reasoning for having Groot speak English in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, it’s likely that he did it to heighten the emotional impact of the scene. Groot’s line being in English allows the viewers to hear what’s being said, instead of forcing the audience to try to figure out what he said based on context clues. If Groot had simply said, “I am Groot,” in that moment instead of, “I love you guys,” it wouldn’t have had the same emotional resonance.

Will Groot Speak English Again In The MCU?

Whether Groot will speak English again in the MCU largely depends on whether he actually spoke it in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. If Groot speaking English was a stylistic choice made by Gunn for emotional impact, then it’s unlikely audiences will hear Groot speak English again. But, if Groot somehow learned to speak English and just only rarely did so in Vol. 3, it’s possible his next appearance will feature the character speaking English more. After Vol. 3, Groot will no doubt return for future MCU films, so the writers of those films will determine whether the beloved character has a wider vocabulary or sticks strictly to his famous catchphrase: “I am Groot.”