blather

Meaning

Verb

1. (derogatory, intransitive) To talk rapidly without making much sense.
2. (derogatory, transitive) To say (something foolish or nonsensical); to say (something) in a foolish or overly verbose way.

Noun

Foolish or nonsensical talk.

Noun

Obsolete form of bladder.

Synonyms

babble

nonsense

blether

drivel

chatter

prattle

prate

rave

jabber

blither

gossip

speak nonsense

palaver

rigmarole

gabble

blatherskite

natter

smatter

blab

blathering

chew the fat

mumble

piffle

blabber

gab

bellyaching

schmooze

screed

spill the beans

talk through one’s hat

tittle-tattle

twaddle

yap

blat out

talk nonsense

yakety-yak

clack

rabbit on

gibber

talk idly

gurgle

idle talk

chat

jabbering

maunder

moaning

Translations

non-sens

divaguer

débiter des âneries

déconner

Faselei

labern

bajanades

bavardage

dummes Geschwätz

déblatérer

πολυλογώ

Geseire

lamentation

bestieses

animalades

Pronounced as (IPA)

/blæðə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: bletheren

Cognate with Scots: blether

Cognate with German: bladdern

Cognate with Norwegian: bladra

Cognate with Icelandic: blaðra

In summary

From Middle English bletheren, bloderen, from Old Norse blaðra (“to speak inarticulately, talk nonsense”). Cognate with Scots blether, bladder, bledder (“to blather”), dialectal German bladdern (“to talk nonsense, blather”), Norwegian bladra (“to babble, speak imperfectly”), Icelandic blaðra (“to twaddle”).