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chit-chat en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• audio

Etymology

Reduplication of chat. Compare tittle-tattle, flim-flam, pitter-patter, etc.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Light conversation; casual talk, usually about trivial matters.
   • “What are you doing down here, father?” “Just having a bit of chitchat with your curious creation.” “Right.” 2024 November 11, Jake Bender & Zach Dunn, “Laszlo's Father” (20:06 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows, season 6, episode 6, spoken by Lord Roderick Cravensworth (Steve Coogan):
   • He speaks rapidly, with clarity and with obvious enthusiasm. No time is wasted on idle chit-chat. 2020 December 2, Andy Byford talks to Paul Clifton, “I enjoy really big challenges...”, in Rail, page 50:
2. (countable, uncountable) Gossip.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
chit-chats	Number=Plur		lexicographic
chitchat		alternative	lexicographic
chit chat		alternative	lexicographic

Synonyms

claver · small talk · chinwag (overlapping both senses)

Translations (35)

gd seanchas (gossip) · it diceria (gossip) · fr causette (gossip) · fr parlotte (gossip) · es conversao (gossip) · no babbel (gossip) · bg лаф (gossip) · gl parola (gossip) · cs tlachání (gossip) · es teque (gossip) · ga giob geab (gossip) · lad charlina (gossip) · bg при́казка (gossip) · es cháchara (gossip) · es cotilleo (gossip) · hu pletykálás (gossip) · pl plotka (gossip) · it maldicenza (gossip) · fi jutustelu (gossip) · da sludder (gossip) · is mas (gossip) · it pettegolezzo (gossip) · hu csevegés (gossip) · gl rexouba (gossip) · it chiacchiera (gossip) · fr blabla (gossip) · pl gadka szmatka (gossip) · es palique (gossip) · fr bavardage (gossip) · gd goileam (gossip) · is rabb (gossip) · nl roddel (gossip) · ru болтовня́ (gossip) · fi rupattelu (gossip) · it ciarla (gossip)

chit-chat en · VERB

Pronunciation

• audio

Etymology

Reduplication of chat. Compare tittle-tattle, flim-flam, pitter-patter, etc.

Meanings

1. (colloquial, intransitive) To engage in small talk, to discuss unimportant matters.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
chit-chats	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres		lexicographic
chit-chatted	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic
chit-chatted	Tense=Past		lexicographic
chit chat		alternative	lexicographic
chitchat		alternative	lexicographic
chit-chatting	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic

Relateds

chitter-chatter

Translations (27)

nl over koetjes en kalfjes praten (to engage in small talk) · hu cseveg (to engage in small talk) · es charlotear (to engage in small talk) · de über Gott und die Welt reden (to engage in small talk) · fi rupatella (to engage in small talk) · da sludre (to engage in small talk) · sv småprata (to engage in small talk) · es cotillear (to engage in small talk) · fr parler de tout et de rien (to engage in small talk) · bg ла́фя (to engage in small talk) · cs bavit se (to engage in small talk) · fr blablater (to engage in small talk) · bg прика́звам (to engage in small talk) · fi jutustella (to engage in small talk) · cs tlachat (to engage in small talk) · gl parolar (to engage in small talk) · cs kecat (to engage in small talk) · ru болта́ть (to engage in small talk) · fr parler de la pluie et du beau temps (to engage in small talk) · hu pletykál (to engage in small talk) · fr tailler une bavette (to engage in small talk) · pl plotkować (to engage in small talk) · pl gawędzić (to engage in small talk) · pt tagarelar (to engage in small talk) · bg прика́жа (to engage in small talk) · da småsnakke (to engage in small talk) · ru лясы точить (to engage in small talk)