chit chat
Light casual conversation
Chit chat is light, casual conversation about unimportant matters—small talk to pass time or ease social situations: We made chit chat while waiting for the meeting to start.
The verb means to engage in such talk: They chit chatted about the weather.
Also spelled chitchat.
Playful, teasing exchange
- gabLight, meaningless talk
- natterLight, aimless conversation
- prattleTrivial, prolonged speech
- yakHimalayan ox or chatter
jaw · schmooze · gabble · patter · yammer · blabber · chatter · jabber
Polite conversational formalities
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- wittyCleverly humorous
- playfulInclined toward fun
- jokingSaying things in fun
jovial · whimsical · amusing · jocular · merry · cheerful · fun · laughing
Casual social interaction
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- icebreakerTension-easing social activity
- mixerCombines ingredients or people
- receptionAct of receiving guests
gathering · meetup · party · fellowship · bonding · rapport · camaraderie · schmoozing
Unconfirmed circulating story
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- buzzContinuous low drone
tea · dirt · scoop · innuendo · speculation · tattle · backbiting · talebearing
banter
Playful, teasing exchange
yak · jaw · schmooze · gabble · patter · yammer · blabber · chatter · jabber · ramble
pleasantries
Polite conversational formalities
joking · jovial · whimsical · amusing · jocular · merry · cheerful · fun · laughing · teasing
mingling
Casual social interaction
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- icebreakerTension-easing social activity
- mixerCombines ingredients or people
reception · gathering · meetup · party · fellowship · bonding · rapport · camaraderie · schmoozing · water cooler
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
buzz · tea · dirt · scoop · innuendo · speculation · tattle · backbiting · talebearing · blab
- rhyming reduplicativesflip flop, hip hop, tip top, zigzag, ping pong
- talkstalk, conversation, discussion, dialogue, discourse
- conversation elementssmall talk, gossip, banter, greeting, compliment
- conversationstalk, discussion, discuss, chatter, speak
- courtesiesplease, thank you, thanks, sorry, excuse me
- time wastersprocrastination, scrolling, doom scrolling, binge watching, binge-watching
chit chatheart-to-heart
Sincere personal discussion
soul-searching · real talk · intellectual discourse · philosophical debate · in-depth analysis
chit chatformal address
Respectful way of speaking
deliberation · lecture · presentation · speech · monologue
chit chatsilence
Total lack of sound
taciturnity · reticence · muteness · wordlessness · quiet