What does gabby mean?
Gabby is an informal English adjective describing someone who talks a great deal — a person who is chatty, loquacious, and rarely at a loss for words. It typically characterizes people whose conversation is constant, sociable, and sometimes hard to interrupt, as in 'our gabby neighbor can turn a five-minute errand into an hour-long chat.' The word carries a gently humorous or affectionate tone rather than severe criticism: calling someone gabby suggests fond exasperation more than genuine disapproval, though the implication of excessive talking is always present. It functions chiefly in casual speech and writing, where terms like loquacious or garrulous serve the same purpose in more formal contexts. Etymologically, gabby derives from the verb gabble and related imitative words that echo the sound of rapid, indistinct chatter. Its common derived forms include gabbily, gabbier, and gabbiness, making it a compact but versatile addition to the vocabulary of talkativeness.
adjectiveGiven to or characterized by much talking; excessively chatty or loquacious.
- Talkative; inclined to talk a great deal, especially in an informal, sociable way.
- (Of speech or writing) rambling or verbose in character — a rarer, extended use.
"Our gabby taxi driver kept up a running commentary on politics the entire ride."
"The gabby barber entertained every customer with stories about his vacation."
"She was too gabby to keep the secret for even a day."
'Gabby' and 'gabble' both trace back to the same imitative root — the word literally mimics the sound of nonstop chatter.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of gabby
Gabby derives from the verb gabble, meaning to talk rapidly and incoherently, which itself comes from gab, a Middle English word of imitative origin echoing the sound of chatter. The same imitative root produced related forms such as gabber and the colloquial noun gab meaning talk or gift of the gab. It emerged as an adjective in nineteenth-century American usage, extending this family of onomatopoeic chatter-words into a direct characterization of talkative people.
Related word forms
How gabby is actually used
Informal register throughout; 'gabby' carries a mildly teasing or affectionate connotation rather than harsh criticism. It often describes people who are friendly but prone to over-talking. In formal writing, 'loquacious' or 'garrulous' would be preferred.
Easily confused with gabby
Gabby is also a common nickname for Gabrielle or Gabriel, entirely unrelated to the adjective meaning talkative.
Garrulous means talkative about trivial matters, while gabby is a broader, more informal term for simply talking a lot.