Synonyms of chitchat

chitchat

noun

ˈchit-ˌchat 

as in chat

friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this

a bit of chitchat over lunch with people we hadn't seen in a while

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chat
• chatter
• talk
• gossip
• gabfest
• gab
• natter
• schmooze
• tête-à-tête
• small talk
• chin-wag
• table talk
• palaver
• jaw
• confab
• confabulation
• patter
• causerie
• dialogue
• chin music
• debate
• discourse
• jangle
• cackle
• rap
• backchat
• conference
• exchange
• symposium
• colloquy
• parley
• yak
• give-and-take
• yammer
• happy talk
• yap
• cross talk

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of chitchat

After a time, the normal chitchat and easiness of the room returned like a wound closing, the girls forgetting her intrusion. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

For decades, late-night TV has introduced trailblazers trying to break, or reinvent, the staid routine of stand-up monologues and celebrity chitchat. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026

Google Translate, Apple Translate, or DeepL Translate will all do the job for free, though Google’s product is widely considered the gold standard for cross-language chitchat. — Christopher Null, Wired News, 10 May 2026

Advertisement While a decline in idle chitchat among strangers in settings like grocery stores or restaurants may not seem as significant, research shows that, surprisingly, such small talk does a lot for our well-being. — Markham Heid, Time, 28 Apr. 2026

Video

A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

Associate Editor Serenity Carr looks at onomatopoeic words you might not expect, such as bounce and tinker.

Transcript:

When you think of the origins of a word, you think of Old English, or Old French, or Latin, or Sanskrit. But not all words come from a similar word in an older language. Some words come from imitations of the sounds associated with the thing they name. Some are obvious, like fizz, jingle, toot, and pop. Others are less obvious, like slap, bounce, tinker, and cough. So listen carefully to every grunt and murmur, to the prattle and babbling around you. You may be hearing more than just chit-chat.