self-talk

noun

ˌself-ˈtȯk 

: talk or thoughts directed at oneself

As we push through the pain during a race, it's natural to talk to ourselves. It's also natural to have an unpleasant conversation. Studies show that both negative and positive self-talk influence performance—you can guess which works best.

—Bicycling

… let's say a student said, "I'm having trouble learning these new techniques." The first thing I would do is probe into his self-talk. He's probably thinking, "I shouldn't be having so much trouble."

—Thomas J. Nardi

Neil Fiore, a motivational speaker … says the road to timely tax filing can be reached with a little positive self-talk.

—Kris Frieswick

Examples of self-talk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In this story, my narrator is quite alone, so her self-talk is particularly rich and varied. —Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 20 July 2025

Endorsing negative self-talk activates the same part of the brain that causes anxiety. —Eric Wood, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Try flipping your negative self-talk in a more positive direction to balance your perspective. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Escalating irritability, negative self-talk after online conversations, or a panic response when the phone is taken away are clues, according to Dodhia. —Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 4 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-talk

• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock
• boardwalk
• catwalk
• cornstalk
• crosswalk
• deadlock
• feedstock
• fetlock
• flintlock
• goshawk