What does jibber mean?
Jibber is an informal word for speech that is rapid, indistinct, or impossible to understand. Used as a verb, it describes someone talking continuously without producing words the listener can readily recognize: a speaker may jibber into a microphone, or a radio may jibber because of static. As a noun, jibber refers to that kind of speech itself. The word often carries a mildly comic or dismissive tone, suggesting noise that resembles language without conveying a clear message, although it can also describe genuinely unintelligible communication. It is especially associated with informal North American English and is frequently encountered in the playful expression “jibber-jabber.” Although related in sound and sense to jabber, gibber, and gibberish, jibber places particular emphasis on the rapid or indistinct character of the speech. It is useful when describing communication that is audible and energetic but semantically inaccessible.
To speak rapidly or continuously in an indistinct or unintelligible way.
"The child jibbered into the telephone while the grown-ups were speaking."
Informal; often implies speech that sounds animated but cannot readily be understood.
Rapid, indistinct, or unintelligible speech.
"The recording contained little more than a low hum and some indistinct jibber."
Informal and relatively uncommon as a standalone noun; often used in the expression jibber-jabber.
The plural is grammatically possible but rare in ordinary usage.
"The background jibbers were too faint to distinguish from the interference."
Jibber belongs to the rhythmic family of jibber-jabber, a phrase that turns meaningless speech into a memorable sound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jibber come from?
The verb developed in the late 19th century as an alteration of the older word gibber, meaning to mutter or speak indistinctly. Gibber was related to gibberish, while the paired expression jibber-jabber was also in use during the 19th century and helped establish the word's sound. The modern meaning continues the older sense of making a noise with the voice that is difficult or impossible to interpret.
Related word forms
How jibber is actually used
Informal and somewhat playful, but it can also be used seriously to describe speech rendered unintelligible by noise, excitement, confusion, or interference.
Easily confused with jibber
Jabber can mean rapid, excited, or sometimes unintelligible speech, whereas jibber focuses more specifically on speech that is difficult to understand.