verb
jabber
JA-buh
Jabber (verb) means to talk quickly and unclearly, often about nothing important. Example: “The toddlers jabbered away happily in the back seat.”
verb
1
To talk quickly and unclearly, often about nothing important.
"The toddlers jabbered away happily in the back seat."
"He jabbered nervously before finally getting to the point."
noun
1
Fast, unclear, or meaningless talk.
"All I could hear through the wall was jabber."
How to use jabber
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo chatter rapidly and unintelligibly, or the noise that results.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
jabber away
excited jabber
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Word forms
- Plural
- jabbers
- Third person singular
- jabbers
- Past tense
- jabbered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The toddlers _____ away happily in the back seat.
Etymology
From Middle English forms meaning "to chatter" or "babble", related to "jowl" (jaw) — the word has always been about the mouth running fast.
Related words
Rhymes for jabber
See all rhymes for jabber →Frequently asked questions
What does “jabber” mean?
The word “jabber” means to talk quickly and unclearly, often about nothing important. In plain terms, to chatter rapidly and unintelligibly, or the noise that results.
How do you pronounce “jabber”?
“Jabber” is pronounced JA-buh (/ˈd͡ʒæbə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “jabber” in a sentence?
Here is “jabber” used in a sentence: “The toddlers jabbered away happily in the back seat.”
What part of speech is “jabber”?
Depending on how it is used, “jabber” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “jabber” come from?
The word “jabber” comes from Middle English. From Middle English forms meaning "to chatter" or "babble", related to "jowl" (jaw) — the word has always been about the mouth running fast.
How many meanings does “jabber” have?
“Jabber” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to talk quickly and unclearly, often about nothing important.
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