Meaning & use
walkie-talkie
Last updated
UK/ˌwɔːki ˈtɔːki/
US/ˌwɔːki ˈtɔːki/
Meaning
nouncountable
A small portable radio that lets you speak to someone nearby by pressing a button, usually one person talking at a time.
Grammar: Has a plural: two walkie-talkies. Use on or over: we talked on the walkie-talkie.
Patterns
- talk on a walkie-talkie
- speak over a walkie-talkie
The guard called for help on his walkie-talkie.
The children used walkie-talkies to talk across the garden.
Each member of the crew carried a walkie-talkie.
Word forms
| plural | walkie-talkies |
|---|
Common combinations
- on a walkie-talkie
- She spoke to the driver on a walkie-talkie.
- a pair of walkie-talkies
- We bought a pair of walkie-talkies for camping.
- walkie-talkie crackled
- The walkie-talkie crackled and a voice came through.
- carry a walkie-talkie
- Security staff carry a walkie-talkie at all times.
Synonyms and how they differ
- two-way radio
- This is the more formal and technical term for the same kind of device.
- handheld radio
- Handheld radio stresses that it is held in the hand and may cover non-push-to-talk types too.
Practice
Why did the event staff carry a walkie-talkie each?
Choose one answer.
A walkie-talkie is a short-range handheld radio for quick two-way talk. The other options describe different tools.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “walkie-talkie”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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