# babble

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈbæb.(ə)l/ · frequency rank #38,295

## Definitions
1. To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds
2. To talk incoherently; to utter meaningless words.
3. To talk too much; to chatter; to prattle.
4. To make a continuous murmuring noise, like shallow water running over stones.
5. To utter in an indistinct or incoherent way; to repeat words or sounds in a childish way without understanding.
6. To reveal; to give away (a secret).

## Etymology
From Middle English babelen, from Old English *bæblian, also wæflian (“to talk foolishly”), from Proto-West Germanic *bablōn, *wablōn, variants of *babalōn, from Proto-Germanic *babalōną (“to chatter”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰa-bʰa-, perhaps a reduplication of Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to say”), or a variant of Proto-Indo-European *baba- (“to talk vaguely, mumble”), or a merger of the two, possibly ultimately onomatopoeic/mimicry of infantile sounds (compare babe, baby).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian babbelje (“to babble”), West Frisian babbelje (“to babble”), Dutch babbelen (“to babble, chat”), German Low German babbeln (“to babble”), German babbeln (“to babble”), Danish bable, bavle (“to babble”), Swedish babbla (“to babble”), Icelandic babla (“to babble”). Unrelated to Babel.

## Easily confused with
- **babe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-babe)
- **bale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-bale)
- **bible** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-bible)
- **Babel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-babel)
- **battle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-battle)
- **bubble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-bubble)
- **barbie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-barbie)
- **bubbly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-bubbly)
- **bumble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-bumble)
- **baffle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-baffle)
- **bobble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-bobble)
- **bubbles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-bubbles)
- **bramble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babble-vs-bramble)

## Common misspellings (5)
`abbble`, `babblle`, `bablbe`, `bbabble`, `bbable`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/babble