- Talkative: "Talkative" is the correct and widely recognized word in the English language. It is an adjective used to describe someone who talks a lot or is inclined to engage in conversation.
- Talkitive: "Talkitive" is not a standard English word and is considered incorrect. It should be avoided in formal and informal communication.
In this survey by Open-Source Psychometrics Project, our beloved Spongebob Squarepants was ranked as the most chatty TV character with an average rating of 98.2%. Another word for chatty is talkative, so we can conclude that Spongebob Squarepants is a very talkative TV character. Can you think of any real life examples of talkative people around you? Be sure not to denote them as talkitive, but talkative, as the former term is an incorrect variant of the latter.
What is the Difference: "Talkitive" vs. "Talkative"
The key difference between "talkitive" and "talkative" lies in the correctness of the term. Talkative is the only correct spelling.
When to Use: "Talkative"
Talkative is an adjective. Use "talkative" when you want to describe someone who is chatty, loquacious, or inclined to have conversations.
The noun of talkative is talkativeness, while the adverb is talkatively.
✏️ Sarah was so talkative during the meeting that she didn't give anyone else a chance to speak.
In this sentence, "talkative" is used to describe Sarah's behavior during the meeting. It means that she was excessively chatty or communicative, often to the point of dominating the conversation and not allowing others to contribute. "Talkative" is an adjective that describes someone who enjoys talking or is inclined to engage in conversation readily.
More example sentences
- Sarah is a talkative child who never seems to run out of questions.
- The talkative parrot entertained the guests with its constant chatter.
- Our new neighbor is quite talkative; she introduced herself and shared her life story within minutes.
- It's hard to concentrate on my work when my coworker is in a talkative mood.
- The talkative tour guide provided interesting facts about the historical landmarks.
- Jake became more talkative after a couple of cups of coffee.
- The talkative customer in the café told everyone about his recent travel adventures.
- During the party, the talkative group of friends could be heard laughing and sharing stories.
- The talkative nature of the seminar's speaker kept the audience engaged throughout the presentation.
- Emma's talkative nature makes her the life of every social gathering.
More examples from the web
What we used to spend on impulse buys – or some of it – then goes on a decent wedge of Lincolnshire Poacher, a couple of fillets of haddock or some good beef, sold to us by smiling, helpful, talkative people whose names we may know, and whose businesses matter both to them and us. - The Guardian - Lifestyle
Another persona was "the Hostess", so generous and talkative to the lefty and literary flotsam who crammed into her London flats, when inside she would be crushed from some unwise love affair or other, or just wanting to be alone. - The Economist
Large clocks were used to keep the utterances of talkative shareholders to a minimum. - The Economist
The flow of talkative pentiti has dried up. - The Economist
To remember the difference, think of "talkative" as the combination between talk and native. Omit the "n" from native, and join the two words together.
Synonyms:
- Chatty: Describes someone who engages in conversation easily and is talkative.
- Mary is known for being chatty and sociable; she can strike up a conversation with anyone, anytime.
- Loquacious: Refers to a person who is very talkative, often excessively so.
- During the long bus journey, the loquacious passenger sitting behind me narrated his life story in great detail, leaving no room for a quiet moment.
Antonyms
The antonyms of "talkative" are words that describe people who are reserved or less inclined to engage in conversation.
- Quiet: Quiet people tend to speak less and are more reserved.
- Example sentence: "Tom is usually quiet in social gatherings, preferring to listen rather than talk."
- Reserved: Reserved individuals are typically more private and less likely to share their thoughts and feelings openly.
- Example sentence: "Emily is quite reserved, so it's rare to hear her express her opinions in public."
- Reticent: Reticent people are hesitant to speak or disclose information.
- Example sentence: "John was reticent about his personal life, and he rarely discussed his family with his colleagues."
- Introverted: Introverted individuals often prefer solitude or small group interactions and may not be as talkative in large gatherings.
- Example sentence: "While Mark is introverted, he thrives in one-on-one conversations, where he can be more expressive."
- Tight-lipped: A tight-lipped person is someone who keeps their thoughts, emotions, or information to themselves.
- Example sentence: "Despite the many questions from the press, the celebrity remained tight-lipped about their upcoming project."
- Laconic: A laconic person is concise in their speech and doesn't use unnecessary words.
- Example sentence: "The manager's laconic response was, 'We have a lot of work to do,' leaving the team with little elaboration."****
Common Idioms
- Talk the Hind Legs Off a Donkey: Used to describe someone who talks incessantly or persuasively.
- Have a Gift of Gab: An idiom for individuals who possess the ability to talk eloquently and engage in conversation effectively.
Summary
In summary, "talkative" is the correct and recognized term to describe someone who enjoys conversation or talks a lot. "Talkitive" is not a valid word in the English language and should be avoided in all forms of communication. Understanding this difference will help you express your thoughts and descriptions accurately and effectively.
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