conversate

English

Etymology

Back-formation from conversation.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑːn.vɚˌseɪt/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒn.vəˌseɪt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Verb

conversate (third-person singular simple present conversates, present participle conversating, simple past and past participle conversated)

1. (now chiefly African-American Vernacular, nonstandard) To converse, to have conversation.
   • 1994, The Notorious B.I.G., The Isley Brothers, Chris Jasper (lyrics and music), “Big Poppa”, in Ready to Die, performed by The Notorious B.I.G., track 13:

     Conversate for a few, 'cause in a few we gon' do / What we came to do, ain't that right, boo? (True)

   • 2002, Gail L. Thompson, African-American Teens Discuss Their Schooling Experiences, Bergin Garvey/Greenwood, page 34:

     We don't just want to go to class and not conversate with the teachers.

   • 2003, Steven Travers, Barry Bonds: Baseballs Superman, Sports Publishing LLC, page 241:

     Barry did grow up in a white neighborhood, you know, and he does know how to conversate, and he does know how to pronounce his vowels, he knows how to talk.

   • 2005, Prudence L. Carter, Keepin' It Real: School Success Beyond Black and White, Oxford University Press, page 37:

     I'll talk to them and conversate, but I won't pay no mind to the things that they do.

Usage notes

• This verb is considered incorrect by some prescriptivist authorities. By contrast, the common verb converse is universally accepted.

References

• “conversate”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “conversate”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

Anagrams

• conservate, convertase

Italian

Verb

conversate

1. inflection of conversare:
   1. second-person plural present indicative
   2. second-person plural imperative

Anagrams

• conservate

Latin

Verb

conversāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of conversō

Spanish

Verb

conversate

1. second-person singular voseo imperative of conversar combined with te