palaver

1 of 2

noun

pa·​lav·​er pə-ˈla-vər  -ˈlä- 

1

a

: a long parley usually between persons of different cultures or levels of sophistication

a palaver between foreign ministers

b

: conference, discussion

a palaver between union leaders

2

a

: idle talk

Cut the palaver and get down to business.

b

: misleading or beguiling speech

Don't get taken in by the candidate's palaver.

palaver

2 of 2

verb

palavered; palavering pə-ˈla-və-riŋ 

-ˈlä-;

-ˈlav-riŋ,

-ˈläv-

intransitive verb

1

: to talk profusely or idly

2

: parley

transitive verb

: to use palaver to : cajole

Did you know?

Let’s talk about palaver. Though the word comes from Portuguese, it likely entered English by way of the West African coast in the 18th century. Portuguese sailors there used their word palavra, which in general use means "speech" or "word," as a term for discussions with the native people they encountered. English sailors applied palaver for the same, and then brought the word back to their own shores. The Portuguese word comes ultimately from the Late Latin noun parabola, meaning "speech" or "parable." If Portuguese isn’t in your wheelhouse, perhaps you’ll recognize the influence of Latin parabola on other tongues: the Spanish palabra, for instance, means "word," and the French parler means "to speak."

Synonyms

Noun

• discussion
• consultation
• debate
• consult
• talk
• conversation
• deliberation

Verb

• chat
• talk
• converse
• chatter
• natter

Examples of palaver in a Sentence

Noun

Enough of this palaver. We have a lot to discuss.

seemingly endless palaver between the negotiating parties

Verb

mothers palavering and drinking coffee while watching their children play

I let the salesclerk at the electronics store palaver me into a service contract that I didn't need.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The central feature is a mass-timber column that branches into ceiling ribs, an indoor urban form of the palaver tree where villagers in West Africa gather to resolve conflicts. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 5 May 2025

And to listen to them is to be privy to some of the most easily ignored palaver the global economic elite has to offer. —Noah Rothman, National Review, 18 Jan. 2024

Verb

On the one hand, Hrabal’s palavering bears a direct relation to reality. —Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 19 Nov. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Portuguese palavra word, speech, from Late Latin parabola parable, speech

First Known Use

Noun

1735, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1713, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for palaver

• disfavor
• engraver
• lifesaver
• papaver
• aver
• braver
• craver
• favor
• favour
• flavor
• flavour
• graver

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Kids Definition

palaver

1 of 2 noun

pa·​la·​ver

pə-ˈlav-ər,

-ˈläv-

1

: a long discussion usually between persons of different levels of culture

2

: talk entry 2 sense 1

especially : idle or flattering talk

palaver

2 of 2 verb

palavered; palavering

-(ə-)riŋ

: to talk especially at length or idly