What does nattered mean?
“Nattered” means that someone talked for a prolonged period, usually in an informal, relaxed manner. It is the past tense and past participle of the British and Irish English verb “natter,” and it often suggests a conversation between friends or acquaintances that continues beyond what might normally be expected. The word can be followed by “about” or “on” when the subject of discussion is named: “They nattered about their holiday.” It can also be used with a person or place, as in “She nattered with her sister over coffee.” “Nattered” has a friendly and conversational tone and is less suitable for describing a formal meeting, debate, or official discussion. Its related noun, “natter,” refers to an informal talk or chat. Although the word is used chiefly in Britain and Ireland, it is also understood elsewhere.
verbTo talk for a long time about something, usually in a relaxed and informal way. “Nattered” is the past tense and past participle of “natter.”
- To engage in prolonged, informal conversation.
- To talk continuously or at length about a particular subject.
"They nattered for hours over tea about their plans for the weekend."
"We nattered about the renovation until the train arrived."
"The neighbours nattered in the garden while the children played."
In Britain, a good natter can turn a brief conversation into an afternoon’s worth of talk.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nattered come from?
“Natter” is a chiefly British and Irish English word for prolonged informal talk. It probably developed through a change in the meaning of an earlier word associated with low, continuous noise, and its modern sense became established in the 19th century. The verb “natter” is the source of the form “nattered,” with the usual English past-tense ending.
Related word forms
How nattered is actually used
“Nattered” is informal and especially common in British and Irish English. It conveys relaxed, animated conversation rather than a formal discussion.
Easily confused with nattered
“Nattered” is the past tense and past participle of “natter,” while “nattering” is the present participle and can also refer to continuous talking.