Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| chiacchierone | /kjak.kjeˈro.ne/ | masculine |
| lingua lunga | feminine |
In Italian, the term used depends on whether you are describing a chatterbox or someone who cannot keep a secret. Use chiacchierone for a person who simply talks a lot. If you want to describe a person who is indiscreet or gossips and cannot keep a secret, use the idiomatic expression lingua lunga. You may also encounter the idiom non chiudere mai il becco to describe the concept of someone who never shuts up.
What does it mean word for word?
The idiom lingua lunga is a literal translation of "long tongue", composed of the words for "tongue" (lingua) and "long" (lunga).
Which one should you use?
chiacchierone is a neutral term used for a chatterbox who talks excessively. In contrast, the idiomatic lingua lunga is used specifically for someone who is a gossip or cannot hold their tongue regarding secrets.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun chiacchierone changes its ending to chiacchierona when referring to a female. However, the idiom lingua lunga is a feminine noun phrase and does not change its ending based on the gender of the person being described.
How do you pronounce it?
The word chiacchierone is pronounced /kjak.kjeˈro.ne/. It has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- The word chiacchierone is derived from the verb chiacchierare, which is an onomatopoeic word meant to mimic the sound of rapid, idle chatter.
- If you call someone a chiacchierone, you are not necessarily insulting their character, whereas calling someone lingua lunga implies a lack of discretion or trustworthiness.
Examples in context
- Marco è un vero chiacchierone.Marco is a real big mouth.
- Non fidarti di lui, è un chiacchierone.Don't trust him, he's a big mouth.
- Il mio nuovo collega è un chiacchierone.My new colleague is a big mouth.
Example conversation
Martina and Lorenzo are discussing a friend at a cafe.
- MartinaHai sentito cosa ha detto Paolo?Did you hear what Paolo said?
- LorenzoNo, ma Paolo è un chiacchierone, vero?No, but Paolo is a big mouth, right?
- MartinaSì, non riesce a tenere un segreto.Yes, he can't keep a secret.
- LorenzoAllora meglio non dirgli nulla.Then it is better not to tell him anything.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “big mouth” translations and entries chiacchierone, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chiacchierone, lingua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
