Loquacious
loh-KWAY-shuhs
/loʊˈkweɪ.ʃəs/
Tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
Implies a natural, often pleasant propensity for chatting and conversation, though it can become tiring.
The story behind the word. Directly from Latin 'loquax' (talkative), from the verb 'loqui' (to speak). The root also gives us 'soliloquy' (speaking alone) and 'eloquent' (speaking out).
Word relationships
- talkative: 'Talkative' is common everyday English; 'loquacious' is literary.
- garrulous: 'Garrulous' usually carries a negative connotation of trivial, annoying chatter.
- taciturn: Habitually reserved or uncommunicative in speech.
- reticent: Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.
Commonly confused with
- eloquent: 'Eloquent' means speaking beautifully and persuasively; 'loquacious' simply means speaking a lot.
Word family
- loquacity (noun): The quality of talking a great deal.
- loquaciously (adverb): In a talkative manner.
Collocations
- loquacious host
- loquacious stranger
- loquacious mood
- loquacious companion
Idioms & expressions
- gift of the gab
- talk someone's ear off
Example sentences
- "The loquacious host kept his dinner guests entertained until the late hours of the morning." Literary Character Description
Memory hook
Loquacious sounds like 'low key audacious'—someone audacious enough to never stop talking. Loqu- = speak a lot.
When not to use
Do not use to describe written documents; loquacious applies almost exclusively to people or characters.
Fun facts
- In classical rhetoric, loquacity was viewed as a harmless vice compared to malicious deception.
Related words
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