01
das Gelaber
babble / drivel
A colloquial, derogatory term for long, pointless, or boring talk.
example
Ich kann sein stundenlanges Gelaber über alte Zeiten nicht mehr ertragen.
I can't stand his hours of babble about the old days anymore.
das Gelaber
babble / drivel
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word formation
The word is derived from the colloquial verb 'labern' (to ramble/talk). The prefix 'Ge-' at the beginning often forms nouns that describe an ongoing action or one perceived as negative, as in 'Geschrei' (shouting) or 'Gerede' (talk/gossip).
EXAMPLE
Das ständige Gerede über das Wetter nervt mich.
The constant talk about the weather annoys me.
Register and style
'Gelaber' (babble/drivel) is a colloquial word and is always meant negatively or derogatorily. You use it to show that you consider another person's talk unimportant, boring, or annoying.
EXAMPLE
Hör auf mit dem Gelaber und komm endlich zur Sache!
Stop the babble and finally get to the point!
Sentence structure and usage patterns
'Gelaber' (babble/drivel) is an uncountable noun and is therefore used almost exclusively in the singular. There is no plural form.
EXAMPLE
Ich hatte gestern Abend keine Lust mehr auf das ganze Gelaber auf der Party.
Yesterday evening, I couldn't take all the babble at the party anymore.
Typical collocations
'Gelaber' (babble/drivel) is often combined with adjectives that intensify the negative meaning. Typical phrases are 'sinnloses Gelaber' (pointless babble), 'dummes Gelaber' (stupid babble), or 'ewiges Gelaber' (endless babble).
EXAMPLE
Sein ewiges Gelaber über Fußball interessiert mich nicht.
His endless babble about soccer doesn't interest me.
Compare with
Gelaber vs Geschwätz
chatter / nonsense
'Geschwätz' and 'Gelaber' both mean talk that is seen as pointless, stupid, or annoying. Both words are derogatory. However, 'Gelaber' is much more colloquial and often sounds rougher or more annoyed. 'Geschwätz' can also appear in somewhat more neutral or older-sounding expressions, but it remains negative. In conversation among friends, you are more likely to say 'Gelaber'; in somewhat more careful German, 'Geschwätz' fits better.
Gelaber
Beim Training nervte mich das Gelaber der anderen langsam.
During training, the others' babble slowly started to annoy me.
Geschwätz
Sofia hatte keine Lust mehr auf das ganze Geschwätz über andere Leute.
Sofia was tired of all the chatter about other people.
In real life
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