What does jabberer mean?
A jabberer is someone who talks continuously, rapidly, and often without producing anything clear or useful. The word is typically negative or teasing: it can describe a person who is so excited, nervous, or full of words that their speech becomes difficult to follow. Unlike the more neutral term “talker,” “jabberer” implies excessive or incoherent chatter. It may be used jokingly about children, enthusiastic friends, or anyone whose enthusiasm outpaces their ability to organize their thoughts, but it can sound rude when applied seriously. The related verb “jabber” focuses on the manner of speaking rather than the person’s character, making it useful in both literal and figurative descriptions. Overall, the word vividly conveys rapid, continuous, and often uninformative speech.
nounA person who talks rapidly and continuously, especially in an excited, incoherent, or uninformative manner.
- A person who talks continuously and rapidly, especially without saying anything clear, relevant, or useful.
"She kept calling the stranger a jabberer, though she had not understood a word he said."
"The child became an excited jabberer as soon as the puppet appeared."
"Rather than answer the question, the jabberer launched into a long, incomprehensible monologue."
The plural is used when referring to more than one person who talks excessively or incoherently.
"The two jabberers continued talking over one another."
A jabberer does not merely talk a lot—the word suggests a torrent of words with little useful meaning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jabberer come from?
The noun is formed in English by adding the personal suffix “-er” to “jabber,” meaning to talk rapidly or continuously. “Jabber” is attested in English by the late 16th century, but its more remote origin is uncertain; related forms include “jab” and the present participle “jabbering.” The suffix has long been used to designate someone who performs a particular action, as in “runner” or “reader.”
Related word forms
How jabberer is actually used
This is a somewhat old-fashioned and mildly disparaging word. It is often humorous, but it can be insulting when directed at someone who is merely enthusiastic or nervous.