Meanings
verbbabble (third-person singular simple present babbles, present participle babbling, simple past and past participle babbled)
present singular third person babbles · participle present babbling · participle past babbled · past babbled
- intransitiveTo utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds
The men were babbling, so we couldn't make sense of anything.
- intransitiveTo talk incoherently; to utter meaningless words.
- intransitiveTo make a continuous murmuring noise, like shallow water running over stones.
Hounds are said to babble, or to be babbling, when they are too noisy after having found a good scent.
1 more example
In every babbling brook he finds a friend.
1815, William Wordsworth, “Extracts from Descriptive Sketches”, in Poems […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […], published 1815, →OCLC - transitiveTo utter in an indistinct or incoherent way; to repeat words or sounds in a childish way without understanding.
All this vvhile John had conn'd over ſuch a Catalogue of hard VVords, as vvere enough to conjure up the Devil; theſe he uſed to babble indifferently in all Companies, eſpecially at Coffee-houſes; ſo that his Neighbour Tradeſmen began to ſhun his Company as a Man that vvas crack'd.
1733, Humphry Polesworth [pseudonym; John Arbuthnot], Alexander Pope, compiler, “Law is a Bottomless Pit. Or, The History of John Bull. […]. [The First Part.] Chapter VII. How John Bull was so Mightily Pleas’d with His Success, that He was Going to Leave Off His Trade, and Turn Lawyer.”, in Miscellanies, 2nd edition, volume II, London: […] Benjamin Motte, […], →OCLC, page 23
nounbabble (usually uncountable, plural babbles)
plural babbles
- uncountableusuallyIdle talk; senseless prattle.
This is mere moral babble.
Comus
1634 October 9 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Robinson, […], published 1637, →OCLC; reprinted as Comus: […] (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903, →OCLC, line 8231 more example
Assassin's Creed gets described as "more than a game" and "a platform for meaningful exploration and reflection wrapped in the excitement of unforgettable gameplay"—which is executive babble, let's be honest.
2025 February 28, Harvey Randall, “Ubi Strikes Back”, in PC Gamer (US), number 392, page 9 - uncountableusuallyInarticulate speech; constant or confused murmur.
[M]an has an instinctive tendency to speak, as we see in the babble of our young children; whilst no child has an instinctive tendency to brew, bake, or write.
1871, Charles Darwin, “Comparison of the Mental Powers of Man and the Lower Animals”, in The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. […], volume I, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, Part I (On the Descent of Man), page 55 - uncountableusuallyA sound like that of water gently flowing around obstructions.
[T]he babble of the stream / Fell, and without the steady glare / Shrank the sick olive sere and small.
1832 December (indicated as 1833), Alfred Tennyson, “Mariana in the South”, in Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 23
Synonyms & antonyms
Narrower
More synonyms by meaning
verbflow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise
verbdivulge confidential information or secrets
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*baba-“to talk vaguely, mumble”
- Proto-Indo-European*bʰa-bʰa-
- Proto-Germanic*babalōną“to chatter”
- Proto-West Germanic*bablōn
- Old English*bæblian
- Middle Englishbabelen
- Englishbabble
From Middle English babelen, from Old English *bæblian, also wæflian (“to talk foolishly”), from Proto-West Germanic *bablōn, *wablōn, variants of *babalōn, from Proto-Germanic *babalōną (“to chatter”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰa-bʰa-, perhaps a reduplication of Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to say”), or a variant of Proto-Indo-European *baba- (“to talk vaguely, mumble”), or a merger of the two, possibly ultimately onomatopoeic/mimicry of infantile sounds (compare babe, baby). Cognate with Saterland Frisian babbelje (“to babble”), West Frisian babbelje (“to babble”), Dutch babbelen (“to babble, chat”), German Low German babbeln (“to babble”), German babbeln (“to babble”), Danish bable, bavle (“to babble”), Swedish babbla (“to babble”), Icelandic babla (“to babble”). Unrelated to Babel.
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek θρυλέω, φλυαρέω
- θρυλέω (thruléō)to utter words indistinctly
- φλυαρέω (phluaréō)to talk incoherently
- θρυλέω (thruléō)to talk too much
- λαλέω (laléō)to talk too much
Bulgarian бръщолевя, бърборя
- бръщолевя (brăštolevja)to utter words indistinctly
- бърборя (bărborja)to talk too much
- ромоля (romolja)to make a continuous murmuring noise
- бърборене (bărborene)idle talk
- бръщолевене (brăštolevene)inarticulate speech
- ромон (romon)the sound of flowing water
- ромолене (romolene)the sound of flowing water
Chinese Mandarin 廢話 /废话, 閑話 /闲话
- 廢話 /废话 (fèihuà)idle talk
- 閑話 /闲话 (xiánhuà)idle talk
Czech žvatlat, brblat
- žvatlatto utter words indistinctly
- brblatto utter words indistinctly
Danish pludre, mumle
- pludreto utter words indistinctly
- mumleto utter words indistinctly
- vrøvleto talk incoherently
- bavleto talk incoherently
- sludreto talk too much
- plapreto talk too much
- vrøvleto talk too much
- ævleto talk too much
- mumleto make a continuous murmuring noise
- vrøvleto utter in an indistinct or incoherent way
- røbeto disclose by too free talk
- pladderidle talk
- bavlidle talk
- mumleninarticulate speech
- pludreninarticulate speech
- pludrenthe sound of flowing water
Dutch brabbelen, kletsen
- brabbelento utter words indistinctly
- kletsento talk too much
- babbelento talk too much
- kabbelento make a continuous murmuring noise
- prietpraatidle talk
- brabbeleninarticulate speech
- murmeleninarticulate speech
Esperanto babiladi
- babiladito make a continuous murmuring noise
Finnish jokeltaa, höpöttää
- jokeltaato utter words indistinctly
- höpöttääto talk incoherently
- pulistato talk too much
- lörpötelläto talk too much
- solistato make a continuous murmuring noise
- höpöttääto utter in an indistinct or incoherent way
- höpistäto utter in an indistinct or incoherent way
- laverrellato disclose by too free talk
- lörpötelläto disclose by too free talk
- pulinaidle talk
- lörpöttelyidle talk
- höpötysidle talk
- pulinainarticulate speech
- solinathe sound of flowing water
French marmonner, marmotter
- marmonnerto utter words indistinctly
- marmotterto utter words indistinctly
- jargonnerto utter words indistinctly
- bavarderto talk too much
- papoterto talk too much
- caqueterto talk too much
- jaboterto talk too much
- jacasserto talk too much
- babillerto make a continuous murmuring noise
- murmurerto make a continuous murmuring noise
- susurrerto make a continuous murmuring noise
- babillageidle talk
- bavardageidle talk
- jargoninarticulate speech
- charabiainarticulate speech
- galimatiasinarticulate speech
- babilthe sound of flowing water
- murmurethe sound of flowing water
German brabbeln, murmeln
- brabbelnto utter words indistinctly
- murmelnto utter words indistinctly
- schwätzento talk too much
- plappernto talk too much
- babbelnto talk too much
- plätschernto make a continuous murmuring noise
- gurgelnto make a continuous murmuring noise
- Geplapperidle talk
- Brabbelninarticulate speech
- Murmelninarticulate speech
Greek κελαηδώ
- κελαηδώ (kelaïdó)to talk too much
Hindi बकना
- बकना (baknā)to utter words indistinctly
Hungarian csobog, csobogás
- csobogto make a continuous murmuring noise
- csobogásthe sound of flowing water
Icelandic babla, masa
- bablato utter words indistinctly
- masato utter words indistinctly
- þvælato utter words indistinctly
- malato utter words indistinctly
- blaðrato utter words indistinctly
- bablato talk too much
- masato talk too much
- þvælato talk too much
- vera með heimskuhjalto talk too much
- tala of mikiðto talk too much
- malato talk too much
- blaðrato talk too much
- bablidle talk
- óskýrt talidle talk
- heimskulegt þvaðuridle talk
- masidle talk
- bablinarticulate speech
- óskýrt talinarticulate speech
- heimskulegt þvaðurinarticulate speech
- masinarticulate speech
- niðurthe sound of flowing water
- vatnsniðurthe sound of flowing water
Irish bí ag cabaireacht, cabaireacht
- bí ag cabaireachtto talk too much
- cabaireachtidle talk
Italian blaterare, blaterare
- blaterareto utter words indistinctly
- blaterareto talk incoherently
- chiacchierareto talk too much
- ciarlareto talk too much
- cicalareto make a continuous murmuring noise
- cianciaidle talk
- balbettioinarticulate speech
- gorgogliothe sound of flowing water
Korean 옹알거리다, 중얼거리다
- 옹알거리다 (ong'algeorida)to utter words indistinctly
- 중얼거리다 (jung'eolgeorida)to utter words indistinctly
- 재잘거리다 (jaejalgeorida)to talk too much
- 옹알거리다 (ong'algeorida)to make a continuous murmuring noise
- 중얼거리다 (jung'eolgeorida)to make a continuous murmuring noise
Latin blaterō, blaterō
- blaterōto utter words indistinctly
- blaterōto talk incoherently
Latvian murmināt, vāvuļot
- murminātto utter words indistinctly
- vāvuļotto talk incoherently
- pļāpātto talk too much
- murmulētto make a continuous murmuring noise
- murmuļotto make a continuous murmuring noise
- murminātto make a continuous murmuring noise
- izpļāpātiesto disclose by too free talk
Lithuanian babaliuoti
- babaliuotito talk incoherently
Māori nanunanu, whakahāhā
- nanunanuto utter words indistinctly
- whakahāhāto utter words indistinctly
- koheto utter words indistinctly
- nanunanuto talk incoherently
- whakahāhāto talk incoherently
- kapekapetauto talk too much
- kapetauto talk too much
- whakahāhāto utter in an indistinct or incoherent way
- hīwawāthe sound of flowing water
Norwegian bable, bable
- bableto utter words indistinctly
- bableto talk too much
- plapreto talk too much
Persian دراییدن, یاوه گفتن
- دراییدن (darâyidan)idle talk
- یاوه گفتن (yâve goftan)idle talk
- نارسا گویی (nârasâ guyi)inarticulate speech
Polish gaworzyć, paplać
- gaworzyćto utter words indistinctly
- paplaćto talk too much
- szemraćto make a continuous murmuring noise
- bełkotidle talk
- paplanieidle talk
- gwarinarticulate speech
- gaworzenieinarticulate speech
- szmerthe sound of flowing water
Portuguese balbuciar, balbuciar
- balbuciarto utter words indistinctly
- balbuciarto talk too much
- murmurarto make a continuous murmuring noise
- balbuciaçãoidle talk
- papoidle talk
- balbuciaçãoinarticulate speech
- murmúriothe sound of flowing water
Russian бормота́ть, лепета́ть
- бормота́ть (bormotátʹ)to utter words indistinctly
- лепета́ть (lepetátʹ)to utter words indistinctly
- болта́ть (boltátʹ)to talk too much
- трепа́ться (trepátʹsja)to talk too much
- журча́ть (žurčátʹ)to make a continuous murmuring noise
- болтовня́ (boltovnjá)idle talk
- трёп (trjop)idle talk
- бормота́ние (bormotánije)inarticulate speech
- ле́пет (lépet)inarticulate speech
- журча́ние (žurčánije)the sound of flowing water
Scottish Gaelic cabaireachd, cabadaireachd
- cabaireachdidle talk
- cabadaireachdidle talk
- clabalaisidle talk
- glagidle talk
- cathalaichinarticulate speech
- corrghailinarticulate speech
- rannaghallinarticulate speech
Slovak brblať
- brblaťto utter words indistinctly
Spanish mascullar, farfullar
- mascullarto utter words indistinctly
- farfullarto utter words indistinctly
- charlarto talk too much
- charlatanearto talk too much
- chacharearto talk too much
- charlotearto talk too much
- parlotearto talk too much
- murmurarto make a continuous murmuring noise
- susurrarto make a continuous murmuring noise
- charlaidle talk
- parloteoidle talk
- jerigonzainarticulate speech
- balbuceoinarticulate speech
- gorjeothe sound of flowing water
Swedish babbla, pladdra
- babblato talk too much
- pladdrato talk too much
- porlato make a continuous murmuring noise
- babbelidle talk
- pladderidle talk
- babbelinarticulate speech
Ukrainian базі́кати, галама́гати
- базі́кати (bazíkaty)to utter words indistinctly
- галама́гати (halamáhaty)to utter words indistinctly
- бурмоті́ти (burmotíty)to talk incoherently
- бурмота́ти (burmotáty)to talk incoherently
- буркота́ти (burkotáty)to talk incoherently
- буркоті́ти (burkotíty)to talk incoherently
- базі́кати (bazíkaty)to talk too much
- дзюрча́ти (dzjurčáty)to make a continuous murmuring noise
- дзюркота́ти (dzjurkotáty)to make a continuous murmuring noise
- дзюркоті́ти (dzjurkotíty)to make a continuous murmuring noise
- журча́ти (žurčáty)to make a continuous murmuring noise
Vietnamese bi bô, bập bẹ
- bi bôto utter words indistinctly
- bập bẹto utter words indistinctly
- lảm nhảmto talk too much
- rì ràoto make a continuous murmuring noise
- róc ráchto make a continuous murmuring noise
- tiết lộto disclose by too free talk
- lao xaothe sound of flowing water
Yiddish פּלוידערײַ
- פּלוידערײַ (ployderay)idle talk
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with babble
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
babble. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/babble
MLA
“babble.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/babble. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “babble,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/babble.
Source: babble on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.