blabber: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, often derogatory or humorous.
Quick answer
What does “blabber” mean?
To talk rapidly, excessively, and indiscreetly, revealing secrets or trivial information without thinking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To talk rapidly, excessively, and indiscreetly, revealing secrets or trivial information without thinking.
1. To reveal a secret through careless talk. 2. To make continuous, meaningless sounds (like a baby or a brook). 3. (Noun, informal) A person who talks too much and indiscreetly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. 'Blabbermouth' (noun) is slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
Mildly childish or playful in both varieties. Can imply annoyance at the speaker's lack of discretion.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both. More common in spoken/informal registers than formal writing.
Grammar
How to Use “blabber” in a Sentence
blabber (on) (about something)blabber something (out)blabber to someoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blabber” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- He's a terrible blabber—you can't tell him anything confidential.
- The meeting was just a lot of political blabber.
American English
- Don't be such a blabbermouth!
- Ignore his blabber; he doesn't know what he's talking about.
verb
British English
- She was blabbering on about her holiday for ages.
- For goodness' sake, don't blabber the surprise to everyone.
- The toddler just blabbered happily to his toy.
American English
- He blabbered the company's plans to a reporter.
- My sister blabbered on the phone for two hours.
- I told him in confidence, but he blabbered it all over school.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used negatively: 'He blabbered about the merger before the announcement.'
Academic
Extremely rare in formal writing. May appear in literary analysis of dialogue.
Everyday
Common in informal contexts to complain about someone talking too much or revealing secrets: 'Oh, stop blabbering and get to the point!'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blabber”
- Using it in formal contexts. Confusing it with 'babble' (which focuses more on incomprehensibility).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Blabber' implies indiscretion or revealing secrets. 'Babble' focuses on rapid, incomprehensible, or meaningless speech (like a brook or baby). 'Chatter' is more neutral, describing rapid, continuous, often trivial talk.
Mostly, but not when describing babies or natural sounds ('the blabber of the stream'). When applied to adults, it is nearly always derogatory, implying foolish or careless talk.
Yes, informally to mean 'a person who talks indiscreetly' (similar to 'blabbermouth') or 'the act or sound of blabbering'.
Yes. 'Blab' is the core root (Middle English), and 'blabber' is an iterative or frequentative form, meaning 'to blab repeatedly or habitually'.
To talk rapidly, excessively, and indiscreetly, revealing secrets or trivial information without thinking.
Blabber is usually informal, often derogatory or humorous. in register.
Blabber: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblabə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblæbər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A blabbermouth can't keep a secret.”
- “He blabbered his way into trouble.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a baby **BLAB**bing and spitt**ER**ing while talking nonsense – that's to BLABBER.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEECH IS A LEAKY CONTAINER (secrets spill out); EXCESSIVE TALK IS WORTHLESS NOISE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'blabber' LEAST appropriate?