Talkie

/ˈtɔːki/ noun

Definition

A movie with sound and dialogue, especially used to describe early sound films that were revolutionary compared to silent films.

Etymology

From 'talk' + '-ie' (informal diminutive suffix), the term emerged in the late 1920s when synchronized sound was first added to movies, creating a contrast with older 'silent films.'

Kelly Says

The first 'talkie' in 1927 was 'The Jazz Singer,' and it completely revolutionized Hollywood—actors suddenly needed to have good voices and be able to deliver dialogue, which ended many silent film careers.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.