charlatán
/t͡ʃaɾlaˈtan/
The English word chatty can be translated into Spanish as charlatán.
In Spanish, the way you describe someone who is chatty depends on whether you mean they are simply talkative, a person who rambles or potentially a fraud. While charlatán is a translation for chatty, it is often used to describe a person who talks nonsense to deceive others, such as a fraud or a quack. If you want to describe someone who is simply talkative or chatty in a neutral way, you can use hablador. To describe someone who is fond of rambling on various topics, you can use the term cotorro(a).
Meaning: chatting a lot or fond of chatting (adj)
Which one should you use?
There are several nuances between the different terms: charlatán often carries a negative connotation of being a fraud or a quack. In contrast, hablador is a more neutral and common way to describe someone who is simply talkative. For a more specific description of a person who talks a lot or rambles on various topics, use cotorro(a).
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes to charlatana to agree with a feminine subject. The term hablador(a) can be used for both males and females.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃaɾlaˈtan/
Did you know?
- If you call someone a cotorra, you are literally calling them a 'parrot'.
- The word charlatán shares its roots with the English word 'charlatan'. Both evolved from the Italian ciarlatano, describing someone who uses loud talk to sell fake cures.
- While cotorro refers to a 'parrot' when describing a chatty person, it can also be used as a slang term for 'money' in certain Latin American regions.
Examples in context
- Mi compañero de trabajo es muy habladorMy coworker is very chatty
- Ana es muy locuazAna is very chatty
- Ella es muy charlatanaShe is very chatty
- Mi abuelo es un cotorroMy grandfather is a chatterbox
- Mi amigo es demasiado hablador. Siempre tiene algo que decirMy friend is too chatty. He always has something to say
- María es muy locuaz. Cuando empieza a hablar, no se detieneMaría is very chatty. Once she starts talking, she doesn't stop
- Mi vecina es una cotorra. Puede hablar durante horas sin pausarMy neighbor is a chatterbox. She can talk for hours without pausing
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking about a new coworker.
- LucíaEl nuevo empleado es muy charlatán.The new employee is very chatty.
- MateoSí, habla todo el tiempo.Yes, he talks all the time.
- LucíaA veces es difícil concentrarse.Sometimes it is hard to concentrate.
- MateoTienes razón, Lucía.You are right, Lucía.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry charlatán, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries charlatán, CC BY-SA 4.0.
