What does talkative mean?
Talkative describes a person who readily talks, shares opinions, or tells stories. It is usually a neutral, mildly approving adjective: a talkative host may be warm and engaging, while a talkative passenger may become tiring during a long journey. The word is common in everyday English in both British and American usage and often appears with phrases such as a talkative person, talkative by nature, and extremely talkative. It is more conversational and less formal than loquacious, which can suggest fluency or abundant speech, and less critical than garrulous, which often implies that someone talks excessively or says things carelessly. In a negative context, talkative can suggest failure to listen, reveal too much, or keep others from participating. Across these uses, the central idea remains a marked inclination or habit of speaking frequently rather than merely being capable of speaking well.
adjectiveInclined to talk a lot; fond of talking. Describing a person who readily shares thoughts, stories, or opinions.
- Inclined to talk a lot, especially in an easy, sociable manner.
"Our talkative guide knew every visitor by name and never let a conversation end prematurely."
"She was in a talkative mood and kept describing her new neighbors."
"The normally talkative child became quiet whenever the teacher asked about his grades."
Talkative is a literary relative of the everyday word talk, expanded with the suffix -ative to describe someone given to conversation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does talkative come from?
Talkative was formed in the early 19th century from talk and the suffix -ative, a combining form associated with verbs and adjectives. Talk itself developed in Middle English and is related to forms in other Germanic languages, including Dutch taal and historical forms meaning conversation or speech. The derived adjective emphasizes a person's habitual tendency to talk rather than the quality or quantity of any single conversation.
Related word forms
How talkative is actually used
Talkative is usually neutral and can describe either pleasant sociability or an inability to remain quiet. The more formal word loquacious often suggests abundant or eloquent speech, while garrulous can carry the implication of talking too much or carelessly.
Easily confused with talkative
Both words describe someone who talks frequently, but garrulous often implies excessive, sometimes pointless talking, whereas talkative is generally neutral and can even suggest sociability.