quatsche

Quatsche is a regional German term found mainly in southern Germany and Austria. It is a dialect-related word linked to Quatsch (nonsense) and quatschen (to chat). In dialect usage, quatsche can refer to talk or chatter, often of a casual, trivial, or gossipy kind. It is not part of standard High German, and its exact meaning and acceptance vary by region and speaker.

In usage, quatsche denotes different related ideas depending on context. It can describe idle talk or chatter, as in everyday conversation that is light or frivolous. Some speakers also use it to refer to gossip or to a person who talks a lot, though such usage is informal and regional and may carry a pejorative tone. Because it is dialectal, the word is more likely to be heard in spoken language and in dialect dictionaries than in formal writing.

Etymology traces quatsche to the standard German Quatsch (nonsense) and the verb quatschen (to chat). The form shows how dialects extend or adapt standard roots to create nouns that describe speech and social interaction. The term’s acceptability and exact sense can differ between communities, so it is best understood through regional context and accompanying phrases.

See also: Quatsch, quatschen, Tratsch, Plaudern.