chitter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/LowLiterary, Dialectal, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “chitter” mean?
to make a series of short, high-pitched sounds, often continuously and in a rapid, lively manner.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to make a series of short, high-pitched sounds, often continuously and in a rapid, lively manner.
To talk or chatter rapidly and incessantly, often in a trivial or gossipy way; to shiver or chatter with cold.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is extremely rare in modern usage in both dialects. It is marginally more likely to be encountered in British literary or dialectal contexts.
Connotations
Poetic or old-fashioned when describing animal sounds; mildly pejorative or dismissive when describing human speech.
Frequency
Virtually obsolete in everyday speech. Found in older literature, poetry, or regional dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “chitter” in a Sentence
SUBJ chitterSUBJ chitter away/about/onSUBJ chitter with coldVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chitter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The goldcrests would chitter in the fir trees at dawn.
- He sat chittering with cold on the bench, waiting for the bus.
American English
- Chipmunks chittered a warning from the stone wall.
- She just chittered on about celebrity gossip all afternoon.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, potentially in literary analysis or zoology (animal behavior).
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Rare, potentially in ornithology or entomology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chitter”
- Using it as a common synonym for 'chat'.
- Overusing it in modern contexts.
- Confusing it with 'chatter' or 'titter'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare in modern English. You will most likely encounter it in older literature, poetry, or specific descriptions of animal sounds.
'Chatter' is common and refers to rapid, continuous, often trivial talk by people or teeth (from cold). 'Chitter' is rare, more specific to light, rapid animal sounds, and its use for human speech is archaic/pejorative.
It can, but it sounds old-fashioned or deliberately poetic/insulting, implying the speech is inconsequential, like animal noises.
This meaning is now considered dialectal (e.g., in Scottish English) or archaic. The standard modern word for this is 'chatter' as in 'My teeth were chattering.'
to make a series of short, high-pitched sounds, often continuously and in a rapid, lively manner.
Chitter is usually literary, dialectal, archaic in register.
Chitter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɪtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɪtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The word itself is rare.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHITtering SQUIRREL – the word sounds like the quick, light noises it makes.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRIVIAL SPEECH IS ANIMAL NOISE ("They just chittered on about the weather.")
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'chitter' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?