Babble
/ˈbæb.əl/noun
To talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish or excited way.
Did you know?The word 'babble' is thought to mimic the sounds of babies or incoherent speech, connecting it to ancient rituals of communication with the divine or the chaotic.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰebʰ-
“to bubble, boil, or ferment”
Latin
Latin
babbling
“to speak indistinctly, often associated with the sounds of water or incoherent speech”
Old English
Old English
babbian
“to prattle or speak foolishly”
14th Century
Middle English
bablen
“to talk foolishly or incoherently”
Modern English
English
babble
“to talk in a rapid, excited, and often meaningless way”
Explore more surprising origins