이 페이지를 내 언어로

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 Noun / Verb #3 가장 일반적인 10분 분량

gossip

상위 3

At the A1 level, 'gossip' is a word you might learn to describe talking about friends or family. It is a simple concept: talking about people when they are not there. You can think of it as 'friend talk.' At this level, we focus on the basic verb: 'to gossip.' For example, 'I gossip with my sister.' It is important to know that gossip is usually about secrets or personal things. You don't gossip about the weather; you gossip about people. A1 learners should understand that gossiping is something people do for fun, but it can sometimes make people sad if the talk is not nice. The word is easy to remember because it sounds like a whisper. You can use it to describe what you do during a break at school or work. Just remember: 'I gossip' (action) and 'This is gossip' (the talk).

For A2 learners, 'gossip' becomes a more useful word for describing social life. You should know that 'gossip' can be a noun (the talk) or a verb (the action). At this level, you can start using phrases like 'listen to gossip' or 'tell gossip.' You might say, 'My friends love to gossip about famous actors.' It is also good to learn that a person who talks a lot about others is called 'a gossip.' For example, 'My neighbor is a gossip.' You should understand that gossip is often informal and happens in places like cafes or offices. You can also see gossip in magazines. A2 learners should practice using the word with the preposition 'about.' This is the most common way to use it. 'We gossiped about the party.' This level also introduces the idea that gossip isn't always true; it's just what people say.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'gossip' in various contexts. You understand that 'gossip' is typically an uncountable noun when it refers to information. You should avoid saying 'a gossip' unless you mean a person. B1 learners can use more descriptive adjectives like 'juicy gossip' or 'harmless gossip.' You can also use it in the workplace context: 'The office gossip is often about who will get a promotion.' You should be able to distinguish between 'gossip' and 'news.' News is official and usually true, while gossip is unofficial and might be a rumor. You can also start using the word in the past tense: 'We gossiped all night.' This level also involves understanding the social consequences of gossip—how it can build friendships or cause problems in a group. You might use it in a sentence like, 'I try to avoid gossip because it can be hurtful.'

B2 learners should have a nuanced understanding of 'gossip.' You can use it to discuss social dynamics and human behavior. You might talk about the 'spread of gossip' or how gossip 'circulates' through a community. At this level, you should be aware of the difference between 'gossip' and 'rumor.' A rumor is a specific unverified story, while gossip is the general activity of talking about others' private lives. You can use phrases like 'idle gossip' or 'malicious gossip' to show the intent behind the talk. B2 learners should also be familiar with the word's role in media, such as 'gossip columns' in newspapers. You can discuss the ethics of gossip: 'Is it ethical for magazines to publish celebrity gossip?' You should also be able to use the word in more complex sentence structures, such as 'The gossip surrounding her departure was largely unfounded.' This shows a higher level of grammatical control and vocabulary range.

At the C1 level, you can explore the sociological and psychological aspects of 'gossip.' You might use the word to describe 'social bonding' or 'reputational management.' You understand that gossip is a complex social tool used to enforce group norms. C1 learners should be able to use synonyms like 'hearsay,' 'tittle-tattle,' or 'scuttlebutt' depending on the desired register. You can analyze how gossip functions in literature or film as a plot device. For example, 'The protagonist's reputation was destroyed by a campaign of malicious gossip.' You should also be aware of the legal implications of gossip, such as when it crosses the line into 'slander' or 'defamation.' At this level, you can use the word in academic or professional discussions about organizational culture: 'The prevalence of office gossip can be an indicator of poor internal communication.' Your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's subtle connotations and its impact on social structures.

C2 learners possess a masterly command of the word 'gossip' and its place in the English language. You can discuss the etymology of the word—from the Old English 'god-sib'—and how its meaning has shifted over a millennium. You can use the word in highly sophisticated contexts, such as analyzing the 'economy of gossip' in digital spaces or the role of 'subversive gossip' in resisting power structures. C2 learners can employ the word with precision in literary criticism or sociolinguistic research. You might use it in a sentence like, 'The narrative utilizes gossip as a recursive device to mirror the claustrophobic atmosphere of the provincial town.' You are also comfortable with idiomatic expressions and slang related to gossip, such as 'spilling the tea' or 'dishing the dirt,' and you know exactly when each is appropriate. Your understanding of 'gossip' extends to its role in the 'post-truth' era, where the line between gossip, rumor, and news becomes increasingly blurred.

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

gossip 30초 만에

Gossip is informal talk about others' private lives, often unverified.
It functions as both a noun (the talk/the person) and a verb (the action).
Socially, it can bond people together or harm reputations through rumors.
Commonly heard in offices, schools, and celebrity media (e.g., gossip columns).

The word gossip is a multifaceted term that functions as both a noun and a verb, describing a universal human activity: the exchange of information about people who are not present. At its core, gossip involves idle talk or rumors, typically concerning the personal or private affairs of others. While often viewed negatively as trivial or malicious, sociologists frequently point out that gossip serves a vital social function. It acts as a form of 'social grooming,' helping to establish group norms, build trust between the people sharing the information, and provide a mechanism for social control by highlighting behavior that the community finds unacceptable.

The Noun Form (Uncountable): In this sense, it refers to the information itself. For example, 'The latest gossip suggests the company is merging.' It is usually treated as an uncountable noun when referring to the talk in general.
The Noun Form (Countable): A person who habitually spreads rumors is also called 'a gossip.' For instance, 'Don't tell Sarah your secrets; she is a total gossip.'
The Verb Form: This describes the action of sharing such information. 'They spent the whole afternoon gossiping about their old classmates.'

I heard some juicy gossip about the celebrity's secret wedding today.

People use this word in various contexts, from casual coffee dates to professional environments. In the workplace, 'water cooler gossip' is a common phrase describing the informal exchange of news and rumors during breaks. While it can be harmless fun, it can also become 'malicious gossip' when the intent is to harm someone's reputation. The word carries a weight of informality; you wouldn't typically use it to describe a formal news report or a scientific discussion. It implies a level of intimacy or shared social circle between the speaker and the listener.

Stop gossiping and get back to work!

Historically, the word has shifted in meaning. In Old English, a 'god-sib' was a godparent—someone close to the family. Over centuries, the term evolved from describing a close friend to describing the kind of casual, intimate talk friends engage in, and eventually to the sometimes-negative connotation of spreading rumors. This evolution highlights how central the act of sharing personal stories is to human connection, even if the content itself is sometimes questionable.

The office was full of gossip regarding the upcoming layoffs.

She is known as the neighborhood gossip.

We shouldn't listen to idle gossip.

Using gossip correctly requires understanding its grammatical flexibility. As a verb, it is intransitive, meaning it doesn't usually take a direct object. You gossip *about* someone or *with* someone. As a noun, it can be the substance of the talk or the person doing the talking. Let's explore the various ways to integrate this word into your daily English.

Verb Usage: To Gossip: When using it as a verb, focus on the action. 'They spent hours gossiping about the new manager.' Note the preposition 'about' which introduces the subject of the talk.
Noun Usage: The Information: When referring to the rumors themselves, 'gossip' is typically uncountable. 'There is a lot of gossip going around.' You can use 'a piece of gossip' if you need to make it countable.
Noun Usage: The Person: When referring to a person, it is countable. 'He is a notorious gossip.' This usage is often slightly derogatory, implying the person cannot keep secrets.

Don't believe everything you hear; it's just gossip.

Adjectives often accompany 'gossip' to provide more detail about its nature. 'Juicy gossip' implies something particularly shocking or interesting. 'Idle gossip' suggests talk that is unimportant or lacks a solid foundation. 'Malicious gossip' indicates that the rumors are intended to cause harm. Using these collocations will make your English sound more natural and descriptive.

The magazine is famous for publishing celebrity gossip.

In more formal writing, you might replace 'gossip' with terms like 'hearsay' or 'unverified reports.' However, in everyday conversation, 'gossip' is the standard term. It's also worth noting the phrase 'to trade gossip,' which implies a mutual exchange where both parties provide new information to each other. This highlights the reciprocal nature of social talk.

They were gossiping over the garden fence.

I have some gossip that will blow your mind!

The gossip column is the most read part of the newspaper.

The word gossip is ubiquitous in modern life, appearing in media, literature, and daily interactions. Understanding where you are likely to encounter it helps in grasping its various shades of meaning. From the high-stakes world of political rumors to the casual chatter of a high school hallway, 'gossip' is the term used to describe the unofficial narrative of human events.

Entertainment Media: Tabloids and entertainment websites thrive on 'celebrity gossip.' Here, the word refers to the speculative stories about the lives of famous people, often accompanied by paparazzi photos.
Workplace Environments: In offices, 'office gossip' usually concerns promotions, firings, or romantic involvements between colleagues. It's often discussed in breakrooms or via private messaging apps.
Literature and Film: Many stories use gossip as a plot device. Think of characters like Lady Whistledown in 'Bridgerton' or the 'Gossip Girl' narrator, where the spread of information drives the entire narrative.

The gossip about the CEO's resignation turned out to be true.

Social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit are modern hubs for gossip. Phrases like 'spilling the tea' are contemporary slang for sharing gossip. In these digital spaces, gossip can spread globally in seconds, often leading to 'cancel culture' or viral trends. The speed of digital gossip has changed how we perceive the word, making it feel more immediate and sometimes more dangerous than traditional face-to-face talk.

I don't want to gossip, but did you see what he posted online?

In academic settings, particularly in psychology and sociology, 'gossip' is studied as a serious subject. Researchers look at how gossip influences group dynamics and human evolution. You might hear a professor say, 'Gossip is a mechanism for maintaining social order.' This demonstrates that while the word often feels 'cheap' or 'unimportant,' it describes a fundamental aspect of how humans interact and organize themselves.

The small town was rife with gossip after the stranger arrived.

He dismissed the report as mere political gossip.

She loves to gossip with her coworkers during lunch.

Even though gossip is a common word, learners often make specific grammatical and contextual errors. The most frequent mistake involves its countability. Because 'gossip' refers to talk, many learners treat it like 'story' or 'rumor,' which are countable. However, 'gossip' (the talk) is uncountable, which changes how you use articles and plural forms.

Mistake 1: Using 'a gossip' for the talk: Incorrect: 'I heard a gossip about him.' Correct: 'I heard some gossip about him' or 'I heard a piece of gossip about him.' Remember, 'a gossip' refers to a person, not the information.
Mistake 2: Pluralizing 'gossips' for information: Incorrect: 'There are many gossips in this office.' Correct: 'There is a lot of gossip in this office.' If you use 'gossips,' you are referring to multiple people who spread rumors.
Mistake 3: Confusing 'gossip' with 'rumor': While similar, 'rumor' is usually about a specific event (e.g., 'a rumor of war'), while 'gossip' is more personal and social. Gossip is also more informal.

Incorrect: She told me a gossip. Correct: She told me some gossip.

Another common error is the misuse of the verb form. Some learners try to use it with a direct object like 'to gossip a secret.' This is incorrect. You 'tell a secret' or 'gossip about a secret.' The verb 'gossip' focuses on the act of talking, not the specific content as a direct object. Additionally, be careful with the tone. Calling someone 'a gossip' is quite strong and can be offensive, so use it carefully.

Incorrect: They gossiped her life. Correct: They gossiped about her life.

Finally, spelling can be tricky. The verb forms are 'gossiped' and 'gossiping.' In American English, the 'p' is not doubled, unlike words like 'stopped' or 'hopped.' This is because the stress is on the first syllable (GOS-sip). Following the rule of English stress, we don't double the final consonant if the last syllable is unstressed. Keeping this in mind will help you avoid spelling mistakes in your writing.

He is such a gossip that no one trusts him with information.

I avoid gossiping because it creates a toxic environment.

The gossip was spreading like wildfire through the school.

To expand your vocabulary, it is helpful to look at words that are similar to gossip but carry different nuances. Depending on the context—whether you're talking about a news report, a mean-spirited lie, or just casual chatter—there might be a better word to use. Let's compare 'gossip' with its closest relatives.

Gossip vs. Rumor: A 'rumor' is a specific piece of information that may or may not be true. 'Gossip' is the general act of talking about people. You can hear a rumor *within* a session of gossip.
Gossip vs. Hearsay: 'Hearsay' is a more formal term, often used in legal contexts. It refers to information received from others that one cannot personally verify. It lacks the social, 'chatty' feel of gossip.
Gossip vs. Scandal: A 'scandal' is an event that causes public outrage. Gossip is the talk that surrounds a scandal. A scandal is the 'what,' and gossip is the 'how people talk about it.'

The rumor about the bank closing caused a panic.

Other alternatives include 'tittle-tattle,' which sounds more childish or trivial, and 'slander,' which is a legal term for making false spoken statements that damage someone's reputation. If you want to describe the act of sharing gossip in a more modern way, you might use 'dish' (as in 'to dish the dirt') or 'chat.' Choosing the right word depends on how serious the situation is and who you are talking to.

The judge dismissed the evidence as mere hearsay.

In informal settings, 'chit-chat' or 'small talk' are related but different. 'Small talk' is polite conversation about unimportant things (like the weather) to avoid silence. 'Gossip' is specifically about *people*. You can have small talk without gossiping, but it's hard to gossip without it feeling like a form of conversation. Understanding these distinctions will help you navigate social situations more effectively and use English with greater precision.

Stop that tittle-tattle and focus on your studies!

He was accused of slander after spreading lies about his rival.

Let's dish the dirt on what happened at the party.

How Formal Is It?

격식체

중립

비격식체

Child friendly

속어

재미있는 사실

The word originally had no negative meaning and simply referred to a close family friend. By the 16th century, it began to describe women who gathered at a birth to talk, and eventually, it became the word for the talk itself.

발음 가이드

UK /ˈɡɒs.ɪp/

US /ˈɡɑː.sɪp/

GOS-sip

라임이 맞는 단어

ship trip clip flip grip slip tip whip

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing the 'o' like 'go'.
Doubling the 'p' sound too much.
Stressing the second syllable (gos-SIP).
Pronouncing the 'i' like 'ee' (gos-seep).
Making the 'g' sound too soft.

난이도

독해 3/5

The word is common in news and fiction, making it easy to recognize.

쓰기 4/5

Countability and spelling (not doubling the 'p') can be tricky.

말하기 3/5

Natural usage with 'about' is key for B1 learners.

듣기 2/5

Distinctive sound makes it easy to hear in conversation.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

talk secret friend about news

다음에 배울 것

rumor scandal reputation confidential speculation

고급

hearsay defamation slander libel innuendo

알아야 할 문법

Uncountable Nouns

Gossip (talk) does not take 'a' or 'an' and has no plural form.

Intransitive Verbs

The verb 'gossip' does not take a direct object; use 'about'.

Spelling: Consonant Doubling

Do not double the 'p' in 'gossiping' because the stress is on the first syllable.

Reporting Verbs

Gossip can function like a reporting verb in informal contexts.

Compound Nouns

'Gossip' often combines with other nouns like 'column' or 'magazine'.

수준별 예문

I gossip with my friends at school.

I talk about other people with my friends.

Verb: present simple.

Do you like gossip?

Do you like hearing stories about people?

Noun: uncountable.

She tells me some gossip.

She tells me a secret about someone.

Noun: uncountable with 'some'.

They gossip about the teacher.

They talk about the teacher's life.

Verb + preposition 'about'.

Stop the gossip!

Stop talking about people.

Noun: used as an object.

Is that gossip true?

Is that story about the person true?

Noun: singular subject.

We gossip in the park.

We talk about others while sitting in the park.

Verb: intransitive.

He is a gossip.

He is a person who talks too much about others.

Noun: countable (referring to a person).

My neighbor is a big gossip.

My neighbor talks a lot about everyone's business.

Noun: countable with adjective 'big'.

I heard some juicy gossip today.

I heard some very interesting secrets today.

Noun: uncountable with adjective 'juicy'.

They were gossiping about the new student.

They were talking about the person who just joined the class.

Verb: past continuous.

Don't listen to that gossip.

Don't believe those rumors.

Noun: uncountable.

She loves to gossip with her coworkers.

She enjoys talking about others at work.

Infinitive verb.

Is there any gossip from the party?

Are there any interesting stories from the party?

Noun: uncountable with 'any'.

He doesn't like to gossip.

He avoids talking about other people's lives.

Negative infinitive.

The magazine is full of gossip.

The magazine has many stories about celebrities.

Noun: uncountable.

The office was buzzing with gossip about the merger.

Everyone at work was talking about the two companies joining.

Noun: uncountable, subject of the phrase.

It's just idle gossip; don't take it seriously.

It's just unimportant talk; it's not important.

Noun: uncountable with adjective 'idle'.

She was gossiping about her boss behind his back.

She was saying things about her boss when he wasn't there.

Verb: past continuous with idiom 'behind his back'.

He has a reputation for being a gossip.

People know him as someone who spreads rumors.

Noun: countable (person).

I try to stay away from office gossip.

I avoid the rumors that people spread at work.

Noun: uncountable used as a compound noun.

The gossip spread quickly through the small town.

The news about people's lives moved fast in the village.

Noun: uncountable, subject.

We spent the afternoon trading gossip.

We spent the afternoon sharing rumors with each other.

Noun: uncountable, object of 'trading'.

There is no truth to the gossip you heard.

The rumors you heard are not true.

Noun: uncountable.

Malicious gossip can destroy a person's career.

Mean rumors can ruin someone's professional life.

Noun: uncountable with adjective 'malicious'.

The celebrity's private life is constant fodder for gossip.

The famous person's life is always used for rumors.

Noun: uncountable, object of preposition.

She dismissed the claims as mere hearsay and gossip.

She said the stories were just unverified talk.

Noun: uncountable, paired with 'hearsay'.

The newspaper's gossip column is its most popular feature.

The part of the paper with rumors is read the most.

Noun: used as an adjective (compound noun).

He was caught gossiping about the confidential project.

He was found talking about the secret work project.

Verb: gerund after 'caught'.

The spread of gossip is often fueled by social media.

Social media makes rumors move faster.

Noun: uncountable, object of 'of'.

They are known to gossip incessantly during meetings.

They talk about others without stopping in meetings.

Verb: infinitive with adverb 'incessantly'.

I don't want to be the subject of gossip.

I don't want people to talk about my private life.

Noun: uncountable.

The pervasive nature of gossip in the community led to deep-seated mistrust.

Because everyone gossiped, no one trusted each other.

Noun: uncountable, subject of the phrase.

Sociologists argue that gossip serves as a mechanism for social cohesion.

Experts say gossip helps keep groups together.

Noun: uncountable, object.

The politician's reputation was tarnished by a campaign of malicious gossip.

Mean rumors were used to hurt the politician's image.

Noun: uncountable with 'campaign of'.

She has an uncanny ability to ferret out the latest gossip.

She is very good at finding out new rumors.

Noun: uncountable, object of 'ferret out'.

The boundary between investigative journalism and tabloid gossip is often blurred.

It's hard to tell the difference between real news and rumors.

Noun: uncountable, compound noun.

He refrained from gossiping, realizing the potential for unintended harm.

He chose not to talk about others to avoid hurting them.

Verb: gerund after 'refrained from'.

The novel explores how gossip can manipulate public perception.

The book shows how rumors change what people think.

Noun: uncountable.

The atmosphere was thick with gossip and speculation.

There was a lot of talk and guessing in the air.

Noun: uncountable, paired with 'speculation'.

The historical evolution of the term 'gossip' reflects shifts in social structures.

How the word changed shows how society changed.

Noun: uncountable, subject.

In the digital age, gossip has been weaponized to facilitate character assassination.

People use online rumors to destroy others' reputations.

Noun: uncountable, passive voice.

The play masterfully depicts the corrosive effects of idle gossip on a small community.

The show shows how rumors eat away at a town.

Noun: uncountable with adjective 'corrosive'.

She navigated the social landscape with a keen ear for subversive gossip.

She listened for rumors that challenged the people in power.

Noun: uncountable with adjective 'subversive'.

The researcher analyzed the 'economy of gossip' within high-frequency trading firms.

The expert studied how rumors are used like money in finance.

Noun: uncountable in a metaphorical phrase.

To dismiss it as mere gossip is to ignore the underlying social tensions it reveals.

Calling it just rumors ignores the real problems it shows.

Noun: uncountable, object of 'as'.

The protagonist found herself ensnared in a web of gossip and deceit.

The main character was trapped by rumors and lies.

Noun: uncountable, part of a metaphor.

The article critiques the voyeuristic nature of modern celebrity gossip.

The text criticizes how people like to watch famous people's lives through rumors.

Noun: uncountable with adjective 'voyeuristic'.

자주 쓰는 조합

idle gossip

juicy gossip

malicious gossip

office gossip

celebrity gossip

spread gossip

listen to gossip

trade gossip

gossip column

a bit of gossip

자주 쓰는 구문

dish the dirt

spill the tea

water cooler gossip

hot gossip

piece of gossip

gossip monger

behind someone's back

the talk of the town

hear it through the grapevine

keep it under wraps

자주 혼동되는 단어

gossip vs rumor

A rumor is a specific story; gossip is the general act of talking about people.

gossip vs hearsay

Hearsay is formal/legal; gossip is informal/social.

gossip vs scandal

A scandal is the event; gossip is the talk about the event.

관용어 및 표현

"spill the beans"

To reveal a secret, often leading to gossip.

Who spilled the beans about the surprise party?

informal

"kiss and tell"

To reveal private details about a romantic relationship.

He wrote a kiss-and-tell book about his time with the actress.

informal

"the walls have ears"

A warning that someone might be listening and will gossip.

Be careful what you say; the walls have ears.

neutral

"blow the whistle"

To report wrongdoing, which often starts gossip.

She decided to blow the whistle on the company's corruption.

neutral

"speak of the devil"

Said when someone you were just gossiping about appears.

And then he walked in—speak of the devil!

informal

"let the cat out of the bag"

To accidentally reveal a secret.

I let the cat out of the bag about their engagement.

informal

"add fuel to the fire"

To say something that makes gossip even worse.

His comments only added fuel to the fire of the rumors.

neutral

"take it with a grain of salt"

To not completely believe the gossip you hear.

You should take everything she says with a grain of salt.

neutral

"set tongues wagging"

To do something that causes people to start gossiping.

Their sudden departure set tongues wagging in the village.

informal

"dirt cheap"

While not about gossip, 'dirt' is related; this means very inexpensive.

I bought this gossip magazine dirt cheap.

informal

혼동하기 쉬운

gossip vs gossip vs. talk

Both involve speaking.

Talk is general; gossip is specifically about people's private lives and often unverified.

We had a talk about work, then we shared some gossip about John.

gossip vs gossip vs. news

Both provide information.

News is official and verified; gossip is informal and speculative.

The news reported the fire; the gossip said it was started on purpose.

gossip vs gossip vs. slander

Both involve saying bad things.

Slander is a legal term for false statements that hurt someone; gossip is a general social term.

Her gossip was so bad it almost became slander.

gossip vs gossip vs. secret

Both involve private info.

A secret is something you keep; gossip is what happens when you tell it.

It was a secret until the gossip started spreading.

gossip vs gossip vs. small talk

Both are informal conversation.

Small talk is about safe topics (weather); gossip is about people.

We started with small talk, but soon moved on to gossip.

문장 패턴

I gossip with [person].

I gossip with my mom.

They gossip about [topic/person].

They gossip about the movie.

There is a lot of gossip about [topic].

There is a lot of gossip about the new boss.

He is such a [adjective] gossip.

He is such a terrible gossip.

The gossip surrounding [event] was [adjective].

The gossip surrounding the divorce was intense.

To dismiss [something] as mere gossip is to [verb].

To dismiss the report as mere gossip is to ignore the facts.

The [adjective] nature of gossip [verb] the [noun].

The corrosive nature of gossip destroyed the community.

Ensnared in a web of [noun] and gossip.

She was ensnared in a web of lies and gossip.

어휘 가족

명사

동사

형용사

사용법

frequency

Very common in daily speech and entertainment media.

자주 하는 실수

I heard a gossip. → I heard some gossip.
Gossip is uncountable when referring to the information. You can't use 'a' with it.
She is gossipping. → She is gossiping.
The 'p' is not doubled because the stress is on the first syllable.
They gossiped the secret. → They gossiped about the secret.
Gossip is an intransitive verb; it needs a preposition like 'about' to connect to an object.
There are many gossips in the news. → There is a lot of gossip in the news.
Use the singular uncountable form for information. 'Gossips' refers to people.
He is a gossip talker. → He is a gossip.
The word 'gossip' already means a person who talks; you don't need to add 'talker'.

팁

Countability

Remember that 'gossip' is uncountable when it means the talk. Don't say 'many gossips' unless you mean many people who gossip.

Juicy vs. Malicious

Use 'juicy' for gossip that is interesting or shocking, and 'malicious' for gossip that is intended to hurt someone.

Social Bonding

Understand that gossip isn't always negative; it can be a way to build trust and share common values with friends.

Spelling

Always use one 'p' in 'gossiped' and 'gossiping'. It's a common mistake to double it, but the stress rule says no!

Prepositions

Always use 'about' when you mention the subject of the gossip. 'We gossiped about the party' is the correct structure.

Tone

Listen for a lower, faster tone of voice; this often indicates that the speaker is sharing gossip or a secret.

The Person

Calling someone 'a gossip' is a bit mean. Use it carefully, as it suggests the person is untrustworthy.

Formal Contexts

In essays or business reports, use 'hearsay' or 'unconfirmed reports' to sound more professional than 'gossip'.

Digital Gossip

Be aware of phrases like 'spilling the tea' or 'dish the dirt' when reading social media or watching modern TV shows.

History

Knowing the word comes from 'godparent' helps you remember it's about close, personal relationships.

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'Go Sip'. You 'go' to 'sip' tea and talk about people. Gossip happens over a sip of tea.

시각적 연상

Imagine two people whispering over a garden fence with large ears.

Word Web

Rumor Secrets Whisper Talk People Social Office Magazine

챌린지

Try to use 'gossip' as a noun and a verb in the same sentence. For example: 'The gossip told me some gossip about the boss.'

어원

Derived from the Old English word 'god-sib', which literally meant 'god-sibling' or godparent.

원래 의미: A person who has contracted spiritual affinity with another by acting as a sponsor at a baptism.

Germanic (Old English).

문화적 맥락

Be careful when calling someone 'a gossip' as it is often used as a gendered insult against women, though anyone can gossip.

In the UK and US, gossip columns are a staple of tabloid journalism, often focusing on the royal family or Hollywood stars.

The TV show 'Gossip Girl' (2007-2012). The song 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' by Marvin Gaye. The character Lady Whistledown in 'Bridgerton'.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Office Environment

Did you hear the office gossip?
Don't get involved in workplace rumors.
The water cooler is where the gossip happens.
She was gossiping about the promotion.

Social Gatherings

We were just trading gossip.
What's the latest gossip?
Tell me some juicy gossip!
They spent the whole party gossiping.

Celebrity News

I read it in a gossip magazine.
The gossip column is very popular.
It's just celebrity gossip.
The rumors were all over the gossip sites.

School/University

The school is full of gossip.
They are gossiping about the new teacher.
Don't spread gossip about your classmates.
He's a total gossip.

Legal/Formal

The evidence was mere gossip.
He was accused of spreading malicious gossip.
The report was based on gossip, not facts.
We must distinguish between gossip and truth.

대화 시작하기

"Have you heard any interesting gossip lately?"

"Do you think gossip is always a bad thing?"

"Why do you think people love to gossip so much?"

"What is the craziest piece of gossip you've ever heard?"

"How do you handle it when people gossip about you?"

일기 주제

Write about a time when gossip affected you or someone you know.

Do you think social media has made gossip better or worse? Explain.

Describe a character who is a 'neighborhood gossip' in a short story.

Reflect on the difference between sharing news and spreading gossip.

Is it possible for a community to exist without any gossip? Why or why not?

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

Not necessarily. While malicious gossip is harmful, social gossip can help people bond and learn about social norms. It acts as a form of social glue in many communities.

Yes, anyone can be a gossip. Although the term was historically associated with women, it applies to any person who habitually spreads rumors or talks about others' private lives.

You don't. 'Gossip' as talk is uncountable. You should say 'some gossip,' 'a bit of gossip,' or 'a piece of gossip.' 'A gossip' always refers to a person.

A gossip column is a section in a newspaper or magazine dedicated to rumors and news about celebrities and socialites. It is a very common feature in tabloid journalism.

In both British and American English, 'gossiping' is spelled with one 'p'. This is because the stress is on the first syllable (GOS-sip), so the final consonant is not doubled.

It is a modern slang phrase that means to share gossip. It originated in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and drag culture before becoming mainstream.

Gossip is informal and social. Hearsay is a more formal term, often used in legal settings to describe information that someone heard from another person but cannot prove.

While you can't control others, being direct, maintaining a good reputation, and not sharing too much private information with 'gossips' can help reduce the amount of gossip.

Yes, 'gossipy' is an adjective used to describe someone who likes to gossip or a conversation that contains a lot of gossip. For example: 'He gave me a gossipy look.'

Idle gossip refers to talk about others that is trivial, unimportant, and often lacks any real foundation or truth. It's just talking for the sake of talking.