Translation guide
To talk in a childish, silly, or meaningless way, often at length. In Japanese, this is expressed through onomatopoeia, specific verbs, or descriptive phrases depending on the nuance.
To describe someone talking in a childish, foolish, or trivial manner, often with a sense of being annoying or cute.
To describe someone who won't stop talking, often about trivial matters, to the point of irritating others.
To describe speech that lacks coherent meaning, like a baby babbling or someone talking nonsense.
Noun meaning 'babbling', specifically the sounds babies make before they learn to talk. Can be used metaphorically for adult prattle that sounds like baby talk.
There is no single Japanese verb that perfectly matches 'prattle'. Using a direct translation like 無駄話をする may sound unnatural. Instead, choose an onomatopoeic adverb with しゃべる or a specific verb that fits the nuance.
ぺちゃくちゃ is light, often childish chatter; べらべら implies talking too much or indiscreetly; くどくど is tedious, repetitive, and annoying. Choose based on the feeling you want to convey.
ぺちゃくちゃしゃべるのをやめて聞きなさい！
Stop your prattle and listen!
彼女は何時間も猫のことをくどくど話した。
She prattled on about her cats for hours.
An onomatopoeic adverb often used with しゃべる to describe chattering or prattling on, especially in a light, trivial, or childish way. Can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context.
子供たちがぺちゃくちゃしゃべっている。
The children are prattling on.
Onomatopoeia for talking fluently but often too much or indiscreetly. Can imply prattling without thinking, sometimes revealing secrets.
彼は秘密をべらべらしゃべってしまった。
He prattled on and blurted out the secret.
Onomatopoeia for something going on and on in a tedious way. With speech, it means prattling on endlessly and boringly.
彼はだらだらと自分の話を続けた。
He prattled on and on about himself.
Literally 'silly chatter', this phrase captures the trivial, meaningless nature of prattle. Often used for light, harmless conversation.
彼女たちはたわいもないおしゃべりを楽しんでいた。
They were enjoying their prattle.
Onomatopoeia for talking tediously, repetitively, or naggingly. Implies prattling on in an annoying, long-winded way.
彼はくどくどと文句を言った。
He prattled on with his complaints.
Verb meaning to talk rapidly and persistently, often without letting others speak. Conveys a sense of prattling on aggressively.
彼は一方的にまくし立てた。
He prattled on without letting anyone else get a word in.
Literally 'to talk persistently/annoyingly'. A straightforward way to describe prattling that won't stop.
彼はしつこく話し続けた。
He kept prattling on annoyingly.
赤ちゃんが喃語を話し始めた。
The baby started to prattle.
Noun meaning 'nonsense' or 'rubbish'. Used to dismiss someone's words as meaningless prattle.
そんなたわごとは聞きたくない。
I don't want to listen to such prattle.
Phrase meaning 'incomprehensible things'. Describes prattle that makes no sense.
彼はわけのわからないことを言っていた。
He was prattling nonsense.