What it means
To yatter means to chatter on and on, usually about nowt worth hearing. It’s that constant, slightly whingy blether that fills the room and has everyone wishing for peace. In Scots speech it can be said fondly about a mate who never stops talking, or as a proper dig at somebody who just will not shut up.
Usage examples
"My uncle was yattering in the pub about the neighbours’ bins again, and I’m sat there like aye, right enough, just sip my pint."
"The pair behind us yattered through the whole film about a wedding none of us were invited to."
"She'll yatter on for an hour about the weather if you let her get started."
"He just sat yattering away at the bus stop about council tax and folk were pure staring into the middle distance."
"Aw, I love her, but once she gets on the phone she’ll yatter your ear clean off."
Got something to say?
Edit, fix or tell us something. We review it and, if it is true, you will see it applied with your name on it.
Where it comes from
Yatter is a Scots and northern English dialect word for chattering or rattling on, and it’s generally treated as a variant of older forms like chatter and natter. It’s been around in dialect use for ages rather than being some shiny new slang coinage, which is why it feels so baked into everyday speech.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.
