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bavardage

bavardage

9.9
Light friendly talk about small unimportant things, often gossip
  • noun
  • Informal
translation icon : charlas
  • The café was filled with the cheerful bavardage of friends catching up over coffee.

Examples

  • She enjoyed the bavardage at the party, relishing the casual exchanges with old acquaintances.

  • During the gathering, the guests engaged in light bavardage about their weekend plans.

  • - Mr. Fallow, Mr. Bavardage.

Synonyms

talk
vsbavardage
  • Informal
868 3.2

Informal conversation about other people that may not be true

includes wider casual conversation, not only rumor spreading
gossip
vsbavardage
  • Informal
184 1.1

Informal talk about other people's private lives, often with rumors

is broader casual chatter beyond sharing private details
small talk
vsbavardage
  • Informal
65 2.1

Polite short talk about simple topics like the weather

is wider casual chatter that can include gossip and triviality
chitchat
vsbavardage
  • Informal
28 2.0

Friendly, light talk about unimportant things

covers that sociable function but also includes gossip and idle talk
gab
vsbavardage
  • Informal
12 7.1

A short friendly talk between people

is similar but often includes sharing private details about others
yak
vsbavardage
  • Informal
9 8.3

Loud, continuous talk about unimportant things

is about casual social chatter but usually less loud or persistent
gossiping
vsbavardage
  • Informal
7 1.7

Talking about other people's personal lives in a casual way

includes general trivial social chatter not only personal information
prattle
vsbavardage
5 8.7

Silly talk about unimportant things

covers casual social chatter too but is less childish in tone
confab
vsbavardage
  • Informal
5 8.9

A short informal private talk between people

is more public casual chatter, not necessarily private discussion
idle talk
vsbavardage
1 5.8

Casual talk about small, unimportant things, often gossip

includes gossip and trivial chatter in social settings
friendly banter
vsbavardage
  • Informal
1 2.8

Light joking talk that makes people laugh and feel welcome

is broader idle social talk that can be serious or gossipy
table talk
vsbavardage
  • Informal
1 4.5

Talk that people have while they eat a meal

is general casual social chatter beyond mealtime conversations
yakety-yak
vsbavardage
  • Archaic
1 9.7

A lot of noisy talking about not important things

is casual social talk too but often calmer and shorter
badinage
vsbavardage
  • Literature
1 9.9

Light playful talk that people use to make each other laugh

is casual social talk but less teasing and more trivial or gossipy
persiflage
vsbavardage
1 9.9

Light playful teasing talk that is not serious

is broader idle chatter and may lack the mocking tone
blether
vsbavardage
  • UK
1 9.9

Talk that is silly or not important

is used for casual social chatter that may include gossip
chin-wag
vsbavardage
  • Slang
1 8.4

A friendly relaxed chat between people, often over coffee

is broader casual talk that sometimes includes private details
yabber
vsbavardage
  • Australian
1 9.5

Light talk between people with little meaning

is similar but not always noisy or meaningless, sometimes social
argle-bargle
vsbavardage
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Loud, silly talk that has no useful meaning

is general idle social conversation rather than loud nonsense
jawboning
vsbavardage
  • Informal
1 8.2

A long friendly talk that people use to persuade or catch up

is casual idle chatter instead of persuasive or purposeful talk
tittle-tattle
vsbavardage
  • Archaic
8.4

Light, silly talk about other people

is broader social idle talk not limited to others affairs
prittle-prattle
vsbavardage
  • Archaic
9.7

Light talk about unimportant, silly things people say

is broader casual social talk that can include gossip
chin wagging
vsbavardage
  • UK
7.7

A friendly informal talk about unimportant things

is similar but may stress gossip or idle rumor more
chin-wagging
vsbavardage
  • Slang
8.6

Light informal chat between people to enjoy themselves

is the general casual or idle social chatter including that
schmoose
vsbavardage
  • Informal
9.9

A friendly, informal talk about personal news

is broader casual social talk and not always gossipy
to batting the breeze
vsbavardage
  • Informal
8.8

To talk in a relaxed way about nothing important

is similar but the key also highlights gossip as common
splitting the breeze
vsbavardage
  • Informal
9.9

Talking in a friendly, relaxed way with other people

is broader social talk sometimes more focused on gossip
constant blather
vsbavardage
  • Informal
7.0

Continuous trivial talk that says nothing important

is about casual idle chat but not necessarily continuous
playful bant
vsbavardage
  • Informal
7.9

Light joking talk between people to make each other laugh

is casual social talk that can include news about others

How Chatty

chatter
87 3.5
bavardage
  • Informal
9.9
chat
  • Informal
312 1.0
conversation
1.0
small talk
  • Informal
65 2.1
discussion
1.4

Surface Forms

bavardage singular
bavardages plural

Etymology

Bavardage comes from the French verb bavarder 'to chat' and is like the English word babble, so imagine people making quick, small sounds when they speak. That's why bavardage means light, often unimportant talk or gossip.