talkative

Talkative is an adjective used to describe a person who tends to talk a lot, especially in social interactions. A talkative person usually speaks readily, often at length, and may initiate or sustain conversations with little prompting. The term is value-neutral in itself, but personal and cultural judgments may color its use, ranging from praise for sociability to criticism for interrupting or dominating discussion.

In psychology and personality research, talkativeness is linked to extraversion and to a preference for verbal communication. It can reflect social advantage in settings that reward outspoken participation, such as group work or public speaking, but it can also lead to fatigue, misunderstandings, or perceived talkativeness as overbearing.

Context matters: in some cultures and environments, restrained speech is valued; in others, open, frequent talking is the norm. The perception of talkativeness can depend on listening balance, turn-taking, and conversational etiquette.

Synonyms and nuances include chatty or talky, which are common, and loquacious or garrulous, which often imply longer or more rambling talk and may carry negative connotations. The term may describe a habitual trait or a temporary behavior, depending on the situation.

Origin: the word is built from the base verb talk with the suffix -ative to denote a tendency or propensity.