What does natterer mean?
A natterer is a person who talks a great deal, particularly in an informal, animated, or discursive manner. The word is chiefly associated with British English and often carries a mildly teasing or disparaging implication: a natterer is not simply someone who speaks, but someone whose talk may fill every pause or dominate a conversation. In older usage, the term could also suggest someone who gossips or talks idly, so context determines whether it sounds affectionate, amused, or critical. A natterer need not be a good or interesting conversationalist; the label focuses on volume and persistence rather than eloquence. The related verb natter means to talk at length, and natterer is the corresponding person noun. Although the word now feels distinctly traditional and British, it remains understandable in American English, where such a person might more often be called a chatterbox or talker.
nounA person who talks a great deal, especially in a rapid, informal, or inconsequential way; a chatterer.
- A person who talks a great deal, especially in an informal or inconsequential manner.
"His uncle, an inveterate natterer, could turn any train ride into an hour-long conversation."
"Our guide was an irrepressible natterer who seemed unable to pass a historic building without telling us its entire history."
"The phrase was intended as a friendly jab, but she took it to mean that her brother was merely a natterer."
The regular plural is used when referring to more than one talkative person.
"The two natterers kept the audience entertained throughout the evening."
A natterer does not merely join a conversation—they become it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does natterer come from?
Natterer was formed in English by adding the agent-noun suffix -er to the verb natter. The verb entered English in the early nineteenth century from German nattern, meaning “to chatter” or “talk at length,” and natterer therefore means literally “a person who natters.” It should not be confused merely because of its spelling with the separate British English noun natter, meaning a viper.
How natterer is actually used
The word is informal and often mildly teasing or disparaging. It emphasizes the amount and persistence of someone's talk rather than the quality of their conversation.
Easily confused with natterer
As a verb, natter means to talk at length; as a noun in British English, it can also mean a viper. A natterer is the person who does the talking.