What does blabby mean?
Blabby is an informal adjective describing someone who talks too much, especially someone who cannot be trusted to keep a confidence. A blabby person chats readily and often lets slip information that was meant to stay private, which gives the word a mildly critical edge: it suggests indiscretion more than malice. The term is built straightforwardly on the verb 'blab' — itself an old word for betraying a secret through careless talk — combined with the common adjective-forming suffix '-y'. You might warn a friend, 'Don't tell her about the surprise party; she's blabby,' or note ruefully that an office gossip proved too blabby to handle confidential matters. Close synonyms include talkative, gossipy, and big-mouthed, while its natural opposites are discreet, tight-lipped, and reticent. Because it is conversational rather than formal, 'blabby' fits best in everyday speech and light writing, offering a vivid, slightly humorous way to characterize someone whose mouth moves faster than their discretion.
adjectiveInclined to talk too much or reveal things that should be kept private; given to blabbing.
- Tending to talk excessively or indiscreetly.
- Prone to revealing secrets or confidential information.
"Don't tell Marla your secret — she's far too blabby to keep it for a week."
"The new intern was friendly but hopelessly blabby, so we stopped discussing plans within earshot."
"He lost the confidence of his colleagues after proving too blabby to be trusted with sensitive information."
A 'blabby' friend isn't just talkative — they're the one most likely to spill your secrets before you've finished telling them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of blabby
Blabby is formed from the English verb 'blab', meaning to reveal secrets carelessly, together with the adjective suffix '-y'. 'Blab' dates back to Middle English, where it appeared in forms such as 'blabben', likely of imitative origin — echoing the notion of loose, unguarded talk. The word has no classical root; it belongs to a small Germanic-English cluster of speech-related terms including 'blabber' and the later compound 'blabbermouth'.
How blabby is actually used
'Blabby' is informal and mildly pejorative, carrying a stronger suggestion of indiscretion than neutral words like 'talkative'. It derives simply from 'blab' plus the adjective suffix '-y', and appears chiefly in casual speech rather than formal writing.
Easily confused with blabby
'Flabby' means soft, loose, and lacking firmness (as flesh or muscle), while 'blabby' describes a person who talks too much or gives away secrets.