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Glite Dictionary
to natter

to natter

3 7.9
Talk in a friendly way about small unimportant things
  • verb
  • /ˈnætər/
  • UK
translation icon : charlar
  • Fritzi wouldn't stop nattering about her determination to have a career on the stage.
  • natter away
  • still nattering
  • always nattering

And then, and then, and then he goes, they're just nattering.

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Examples

  • The Queen was compulsively nattering on about something that was disturbing her.

    Blog text (18)

  • I allow each of the characters to natter on as much as they like about their pasts.

    Blog text (23)

  • I have no idea what this guy is nattering on about.

    Blog text (7)

  • "Ah, those Swiss," he natters happily.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Meanwhile, the archivist nattered on.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • What's this you're nattering about?

    Fiction book (1996)

  • As we sat in the garden, we nattered about our childhood adventures.

  • During the long train ride, they nattered happily about their favorite books.

  • She loves to natter with her friends over coffee every Saturday morning.

Synonyms

to chat
vsto natter
  • Informal
269 1.0

To talk in a friendly, informal way about small everyday things

is the same casual, informal, and unimportant conversation style
to chatter
vsto natter
86 2.7

To talk quickly and without stopping about unimportant things

shares trivial focus but is less about speed and more leisure
to chat about
vsto natter
  • Informal
40 1.6

To talk in a friendly, casual way about a subject

is similar but typically implies general small talk without focus
to shoot the breeze
vsto natter
  • Informal
9 6.8

To chat in a relaxed informal way about unimportant things

matches this casual tone but can imply more local dialect use
to chitchat
vsto natter
  • Informal
7 3.0

To talk in a friendly, light way about unimportant things

is similar but slightly more British and chatty in tone
to jaw
vsto natter
  • Informal
6 7.7

To talk for a long time in a relaxed, often boring way

shares lengthy casual talk but is usually lighter and friendlier
to chit-chat
vsto natter
  • Informal
5 4.1

To talk in a friendly, light way about unimportant things

is the same friendly small talk but often shorter
to chew the fat
vsto natter
  • Informal
3 7.9

Talk in a friendly, relaxed way for a long time

is similar casual chat but usually shorter and lighter
to confab
vsto natter
  • Informal
1 8.5

To talk briefly and informally with someone, often in private

overlaps in informality but focuses more on decision or ideas
to chaffer
vsto natter
  • Archaic
9.9

Talk in a friendly way about small, unimportant things

is similar but does not stress withholding useful information
to claver
vsto natter
  • Archaic
9.9

To have a light friendly chat about unimportant things

is the same casual social talk but not focused on gossip
to confabulate
vsto natter
  • Informal
8.7

To chat with others about small, unimportant things

matches casual small talk but is a more formal verb form

How Chatty

to babble
75 4.4
to prattle
9 8.4
to chatter
86 2.7
to natter
  • UK
3 7.9
to chat
  • Informal
269 1.0

Surface Forms

natter infinitive
nattered past
nattered past participle
nattering present participle
natters third person singular

Etymology

Natter is a friendly word that likely grew as a sound word, like chatter, which also imitates quick, light talk; a helpful way to remember it is to think of natter as a kind of relaxed 'chat'. So, to natter is to 'talk' about small, unimportant things with friends.