Chummy
/ˈtʃʌmi/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Chummy describes a warm, friendly, and close relationship between people. It means being comfortable and happy with someone, like good friends who talk easily and share good feelings.
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⚡ See It in Action
Having a close and friendly relationship
- •They have been chummy since childhood.
- •The manager is quite chummy with the team members.
- •She became chummy with her new neighbors quickly.
Acting in a friendly or overly familiar way
- •He was a bit too chummy with the boss, which made others uncomfortable.
- •They spoke in a chummy tone during the meeting.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "chummy" like "friendly," but more personal and close—like friends who share secrets and laugh a lot
- ✓Picture two people smiling, sitting close, talking happily without any distance or formality
- ✓It's the feeling when you are with someone you trust and enjoy being around, like a best friend or close classmate
- ✓Sounds like "CHUM-my" → imagine a "chum" (friend) who is very close and nice to you, making you feel happy
- ✓Think of the friendly characters in a movie who are always joking and supporting each other
- ✓NOT like "acquainted" (someone you just met), "chummy" means you know each other well and feel comfortable
- ✓NOT like "formal" (serious or official), "chummy" is warm and relaxed
- ✓NOT like "stranger" (unknown person), "chummy" means you have a friendly connection
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Friendly: acting kind and pleasant (Use when the relationship is good but not necessarily very close)
- •Close: having a strong personal relationship (Use when emphasizing emotional closeness rather than just friendliness)
- •Cordial: polite and warm (Use in formal settings where friendliness is polite but not very familiar)
- •Intimate: very close and private (Use when the relationship is very deep and personal)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "chum" (friend) + suffix "-y" (makes adjective meaning "having the quality of")
- •Etymology: "chum" comes from British English meaning close friend or companion, from late 1600s
- •Historical development: Originally meant a roommate or companion, later used to describe friendly behavior
- •Modern usage: Used to describe friendly, warm, and sometimes informal or familiar relationships between people
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How can being chummy with someone help build trust and teamwork in a group?
•Can being too chummy ever cause problems in professional or formal settings? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.They became chummy very quickly because they shared many ___ interests and hobbies.
2.Being chummy often means feeling ___ and relaxed around someone, not nervous or distant.
3.Unlike a formal meeting, a chummy conversation usually includes ___ jokes and laughter.
4.Sometimes people act chummy to make others feel ___ or to create a friendly atmosphere.
5.The two coworkers were chummy, so they often ___ ideas and helped each other.
6.You wouldn’t expect strangers to be chummy because they do not have ___ trust yet.
7.When someone is chummy, they usually speak in a ___ and warm way that invites friendship.