chitchat
Light idle conversation
Chitchat is light, informal conversation about trivial matters—small talk that fills silence without addressing anything substantial: We made chitchat while waiting for the meeting to start.
The word can also function as a verb: They chitchatted about the weather.
The reduplication suggests the back-and-forth rhythm of casual exchange.
Polite conversational formalities
Incoherent speech
- blatherFoolish, pointless chatter
- ramblingLong-winded and unfocused
- yammerComplain loudly, persistently
- yapBark shrilly or jabber
gabble · patter · drivel · twaddle · piffle · waffle · prattling · nattering
Unconfirmed circulating story
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- buzzContinuous low drone
scuttlebutt · dirt · scandal · grapevine · backbiting · rumormonger · blabbermouth · dishing
Quick, clever conversation
- quipBrief, clever remark
- jestHumorous remark or act
- wisecrackFlippant clever remark
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
ribbing · joking · pleasantry · raillery · badinage · wordplay · drollery · sally
Casual social interaction
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- icebreakerTension-easing social activity
- mixerCombines ingredients or people
- receptionAct of receiving guests
gathering · meetup · schmoozing · introductions · circulating · glad-handing · meet-and-greet · soiree
pleasantries
Polite conversational formalities
babble
Incoherent speech
- blatherFoolish, pointless chatter
- ramblingLong-winded and unfocused
- yammerComplain loudly, persistently
yap · gabble · patter · drivel · twaddle · piffle · waffle · prattling · nattering
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- whisperSpeech without full voice
buzz · scuttlebutt · dirt · scandal · grapevine · backbiting · rumormonger · blabbermouth · dishing · juicy
repartee
Quick, clever conversation
teasing · ribbing · joking · pleasantry · raillery · badinage · wordplay · drollery · sally · playfulness
mingling
Casual social interaction
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- icebreakerTension-easing social activity
- mixerCombines ingredients or people
reception · gathering · meetup · schmoozing · introductions · circulating · glad-handing · meet-and-greet · soiree · engagement
- rhyming reduplicativesflip flop, hip hop, tip top, zigzag, ping pong
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
- conversationlistening, talk, talking, speaking, discussion
- social interactiongreeting, hello, goodbye, hi, bye
- social interactionshello, goodbye, talk, nod, conversation
- socializingmingle, mingles, mingling, party, parties
chitchatheart-to-heart
Sincere personal discussion
intellectual debate · deliberation · negotiation · discourse · symposium
chitchatsilence
Total lack of sound
quiet · quietude · speechlessness · muteness · taciturnity
chitchatheart-to-heart
Sincere personal discussion
truth · candor · straight talk · real talk · intellectual debate