gabble: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Low frequency, more common in descriptive/literary contexts)Informal, often slightly literary or humorous, mildly pejorative.
Quick answer
What does “gabble” mean?
To talk rapidly and unintelligibly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To talk rapidly and unintelligibly.
To utter inarticulate or animal sounds quickly; to speak too fast to be understood clearly; often implies nervousness, excitement, or lack of thought.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally understood and used, with no major lexical or grammatical differences.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of inarticulateness and haste. Possibly slightly more common in British English in colloquial descriptions of speech.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but marginally more attested in British corpus data in informal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gabble” in a Sentence
[V] (intransitive)[V speech] (transitive)[V that-clause][V + away/on]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gabble” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He just gabbled his lines and rushed off stage.
- The toddlers gabbled away in their playpen.
- The geese were gabbling by the pond.
American English
- She gabbled an excuse and hung up the phone.
- He tends to gabble when he's nervous.
- The tourists gabbled excitedly in a foreign language.
adverb
British English
- (Derived) He spoke gabblingly, tripping over his words.
- The announcement was made gabblingly over the poor speaker system.
American English
- (Derived, rare) She answered gabblingly, under pressure from the interviewer.
adjective
British English
- (Gerund/participle as adjective) We heard the gabbling crowd before we saw them.
- His gabbled explanation made no sense.
American English
- (Gerund/participle as adjective) The gabbling commentator was hard to follow.
- She left a gabbled message on my voicemail.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used humorously to criticise a rushed, unclear presentation.
Academic
Very rare, except in literary analysis or linguistics describing speech patterns.
Everyday
Used informally to describe someone talking too fast to be understood.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gabble”
- Confusing with 'gobble' (to eat quickly).
- Using in formal contexts.
- Spelling as 'gable' (part of a roof).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and often carries a slightly negative or humorous tone.
Yes, it is commonly used for the noisy, rapid sounds made by geese and some other birds.
'Gabble' emphasises speed leading to unintelligibility, often from excitement or nerves. 'Chatter' is more neutral, describing continuous, rapid, but often understandable talk, like friendly conversation or teeth chattering.
Yes, 'gabble' can also be a noun meaning rapid, unintelligible talk (e.g., 'the gabble of the audience').
To talk rapidly and unintelligibly.
Gabble: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡæb.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡæb.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “gabble on”
- “gabble away”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GABbling turKEY – it makes rapid, indistinct noises.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEECH IS ANIMAL NOISE / RAPID SPEECH IS THE SOUND OF GEESE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'gabble' LEAST appropriate?