Garrulous
/ˈɡærələs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Garrulous describes a person who talks a lot, sometimes too much, especially about things that are not very important. It often suggests that the person talks in a way that can be tiring or annoying to others.
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See It in Action
Talking a lot, especially about small or unimportant details
- •She is so garrulous that it’s hard to get a word in during conversations.
- •The garrulous old man shared stories for hours about his childhood.
- •His garrulous nature made meetings longer than necessary.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "garrulous" like "talkative" (A2 word), but more than usual—someone who talks a lot without stopping
- ✓Picture a person at a party who keeps talking about small details, like what they ate or the weather, and doesn’t let others speak
- ✓It’s the feeling when you want to listen but the person just keeps talking and you feel a little tired or bored
- ✓Sounds like "GARRY-lus" → imagine a man named Garry who never stops talking about everything he sees
- ✓Think of the character Mr. Collins in "Pride and Prejudice," who talks too much and about unimportant things
- ✓NOT like "quiet" (silent), "talkative" is general, but "garrulous" means talking too much and often about small things
- ✓NOT like "chatty" (friendly, light talking), "garrulous" can be more annoying or tiring because it is excessive
- ✓NOT like "silent" (no talking), garrulous is the opposite, very loud in words
Try Other Words
- •Chatty: talks a lot in a friendly way (Use when talking is pleasant and social)
- •Loquacious: talks a lot, similar to garrulous but more formal (Use in formal writing or speech)
- •Verbose: uses too many words when speaking or writing (Use when focusing on wordiness, not just quantity of talk)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; root is from Latin "garrulus"
- •Etymology: From Latin "garrulus," meaning talkative or chatty
- •Historical development: Entered English in the early 1600s to describe someone who talks a lot
- •Modern usage: Used mostly to describe people who talk too much, especially about unimportant things, often in a negative way
Reflect & Connect
•Can being garrulous ever be a good thing? When might talking a lot help in communication?
•How do you feel when someone is garrulous? Does it depend on the situation or the person?
Fill in the blanks
1.When someone is garrulous, they often talk ___ about small details that others find ___.
2.A garrulous person may make conversations ___ because they do not let others ___.
3.Unlike a quiet person, a garrulous person usually speaks ___ and for a ___ time.
4.People sometimes say "___ on" to describe someone who is garrulous and won't stop talking.
5.In meetings, a garrulous speaker might cause the group to ___ the scheduled time.
6.You might feel ___ or tired if a person is too garrulous during a long phone call.
7.A garrulous person often uses many ___, but does not always say something important.