Talking: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ’ฌ
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talking

 

[ หˆtษ”หkษชล‹ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

communication

The act of communicating by speaking; the exchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech.

Synonyms

chatting, communicating, conversing, discussing.

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Word Description / Examples
talking

Used in general situations where people are simply exchanging words or having a conversation without a specific purpose.

  • She was talking to her friend on the phone.
  • They were talking about their summer plans.
chatting

Typically used for informal, light-hearted, or casual conversations, often with friends or acquaintances.

  • They were chatting about their favorite TV shows.
  • We spent the afternoon chatting over coffee.
conversing

Formal or intellectual discussions, often used in contexts where the quality or depth of the conversation is emphasized.

  • They were conversing about philosophy.
  • She enjoyed conversing with the professors.
communicating

Used when referring to the act of exchanging information or ideas, often implies a more formal or structured process.

  • They were communicating through email.
  • Effective communicating is essential in a team.
discussing

Used when talking about something specific with the aim of reaching a decision or understanding, often more serious or focused.

  • They are discussing the new project.
  • We need to set time aside for discussing the budget.

Examples of usage

  • He was talking on the phone with his friend.
  • She was talking to her colleague about the project.
  • I overheard them talking about their vacation plans.
  • We need to sit down and have a serious talk about this issue.
  • The children were talking excitedly about their upcoming field trip.
Context #2 | Noun

gossip

A conversation or discussion, typically about other people; idle chatter or rumors, especially about the personal or private affairs of others.

Synonyms

chattering, gossiping, murmuring, rumoring.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
talking

General term for when people communicate verbally with each other. It can be used in almost any situation where two or more people are having a conversation.

  • They were talking about their plans for the weekend.
  • We spent the entire evening talking and catching up.
gossiping

Refers to talking about other people's private lives, usually in a negative or secretive way.

  • They were gossiping about their coworker's personal life.
  • Gossiping behind someone's back can be very hurtful.
chattering

Often used to describe people speaking quickly or in a lively manner. It can also refer to the sound small animals make.

  • "The kids were chattering excitedly about their school trip.
  • The monkeys were chattering in the trees above us.
rumoring

Involves spreading information that is not confirmed to be true. Often has a negative connotation as it can lead to misinformation.

  • There were rumors circulating about the new manager.
  • They were rumored to be planning a surprise announcement.
murmuring

Describes speaking quietly and often in a way that is hard to understand. It can also refer to a continuous low sound.

  • The audience was murmuring quietly during the intermission.
  • He was murmuring something under his breath.

Examples of usage

  • There was a lot of talking going on about the new couple in the neighborhood.
  • I don't want to participate in this kind of negative talking about someone behind their back.

Translations

Translations of the word "talking" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น falando

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเคพเคคเคšเฅ€เคค

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช sprechen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ berbicara

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั€ะพะทะผะพะฒะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ rozmowa

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่ฉฑใ™ใ“ใจ (ใฏใชใ™ใ“ใจ)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท parler

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ hablando

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท konuลŸma

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋งํ•˜๊ธฐ (malhagi)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู„ุชุญุฏุซ (altahaduth)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mluvenรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ rozprรกvanie

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ฏด่ฏ (shuลhuร )

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ govorjenje

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ tala

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัำฉะนะปะตััƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒšแƒแƒžแƒแƒ แƒแƒ™แƒ˜ (laparak'i)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ danฤฑลŸmaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ hablando

Etymology

The word 'talking' originated from the Old English word 'talu', which meant 'speech' or 'discourse'. Over time, it evolved to 'talk' in Middle English, referring to communication through spoken words. The verb form 'talking' emerged in the 14th century, indicating the act of communicating verbally. Throughout history, talking has been a fundamental aspect of human interaction and has played a crucial role in the development of languages and cultures.

See also: talk, talkative, talkativeness, talked, talker.

Word Frequency Rank

This word ranks #1,704, placing it within important intermediate vocabulary. Learning it will significantly improve your ability to express yourself in English.