untalkative

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ʌnˈtɔkətɪv/ UK /ʌnˈtɔːkətɪv/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
not inclined to talk; reticent or taciturn

The new recruit was untalkative, answering every question with a single word.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · not inclined to talk;... reticent taciturn quiet reserved laconic silent

Opposites

talkative loquacious garrulous chatty

Word family

Related forms talk talkative

Etymology

From un- ('not') + talkative, from talk (a frequentative of tell, from Old English talian, 'to reckon, tell') + -ative.

un- Old English talian Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# untalkative

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ʌnˈtɔkətɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /ʌnˈtɔːkətɪv/

## Meanings
1. not inclined to talk; reticent or taciturn

## Examples
- The new recruit was untalkative, answering every question with a single word.

## Synonyms
- reticent
- taciturn
- quiet
- reserved
- laconic
- silent

## Antonyms
- talkative
- loquacious
- garrulous
- chatty

## Related Forms
- talk
- talkative

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: un-
- Root: talian

## Etymology
From un- ('not') + talkative, from talk (a frequentative of tell, from Old English talian, 'to reckon, tell') + -ative.

## AI Etymology
Untalkative comes from un- ('not') + talkative, from talk (a frequentative of tell, from Old English talian, 'to reckon, tell') + -ative. In current use it is an adjective meaning "not inclined to talk; reticent or taciturn". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The prefix un- is negative or privative, marking the absence, denial, or opposite of the base idea. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. A frequentative element in the history points to repeated, habitual, or intensified action. The historical chain includes Old English un- and Old English talian. Related English forms include talk and talkative. As a result, the modern word is best read as a negative, privative, or reversative formation built on a historically older base.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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