Standard Lemma guide

tattler

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈtætl̩ɚ/
  • General-American: /ˈtætlɚ/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈtætl̩ə/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈtætlə/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ætlə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: T AE1 T L ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

One who tattles (notifies authorities of illicit behavior) or is inclined to do so; a tattletale.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • My sister is a big tattler; she always tells Mommy when I hit her!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: informant, narc, stool pigeon, tattletale, abaddon, accuser, beefer, bewrayer, bigmouth, blabber, blabtale, blabtongue, canary, CI, finger, fink, fizgig, gossip, grass, informer, jurat, leak, mole, nark, nonce, outer, peacher, quisling, rat, ratfink, rooster, sneak, snitch, snout, squealer, state's evidence, stooge, stoolie, supergrass, sycophant, tattler, telltale tit, telltale, tout, whistleblower

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Either of two similar bird species in the shorebird genus Heteroscelus (Tringa in some taxonomies).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A device fitted to a vehicle to measure mileage etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tachograph

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

any of several long-legged shorebirds having a loud whistling cry

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sandpiper

Narrower terms: Polynesian tattler, Heteroscelus incanus, willet, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

5

noun

Meaning 5

someone who gossips indiscreetly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tattletale, taleteller, talebearer, telltale, blabbermouth

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: gossip, gossiper, gossipmonger, rumormonger, rumourmonger, newsmonger

History

Etymology

From tattle + -er.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: stukaĉo — one who tattles
  • Finnish: juorukello — one who tattles
  • Finnish: kantelija — one who tattles
  • Finnish: kantelupukki — one who tattles
  • German: Petze — one who tattles
  • German: Verpetzer — one who tattles
  • German: Verpfeifer — one who tattles
  • German: Anschwärzer — one who tattles
  • German: Petzer — one who tattles
  • Italian: chiacchierone — one who tattles
  • Latin: gestor — one who tattles
  • Plautdietsch: Pludadoos — one who tattles
  • Polish: kapuś — one who tattles
  • Polish: papla — one who tattles
  • Russian: я́беда (jábeda) — one who tattles
  • Russian: доно́счик (donósčik) — one who tattles
  • Russian: стука́ч (stukáč) — one who tattles
  • Spanish: delator — one who tattles
  • Spanish: acusica — one who tattles
  • Spanish: acusete — one who tattles
  • Swedish: skvallerbytta — one who tattles
  • Turkish: gammaz — one who tattles
  • Turkish: ispiyoncu — one who tattles
  • Finnish: harmaaviklo — bird of the genus Heteroscelus
  • Finnish: viklo — bird of the genus Heteroscelus
  • Italian: totano — bird of the genus Heteroscelus
  • Finnish: ajopiirturi — device that records mileage, speed etc.
  • Italian: tachimetro — device that records mileage, speed etc.
  • Spanish: cuentakilómetros — device that records mileage, speed etc.
  • Spanish: velocímetro — device that records mileage, speed etc.