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Prepositions after verbs

Chat with or chat to?

Both chat with and chat to are standard. Chat with often suggests a more mutual conversation, while chat to is common in British English and can sound slightly one-directional depending on context.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with chat?

Use chat with for a mutual conversation and chat to for speaking conversationally to someone. Both are common and natural in everyday English.

I spent an hour chatting with my cousin last night.
She was chatting to the receptionist while we waited.
We often chat with our neighbours after dinner.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
chat with + person

Talking together with someone

Use chat with when the conversation is shared and informal.

He was chatting with a client after the meeting.
2
chat to + person

Speaking informally to someone

Use chat to for informal conversation. This form is especially common in British English.

I chatted to my teacher after class.
3
chat about + topic

Introducing the topic of conversation

Use about to say what the conversation is about.

They were chatting about holiday plans all evening.
4
chat on + platform

Talking using a communication platform

Use on with apps, websites, or channels.

We chat on Signal every weekend.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
chat with
I chatted with my colleague after lunch.
A mutual informal conversation.
chat to
She chatted to the taxi driver on the way home.
An informal conversation directed to someone; very common in British English.
chat about
We chatted about the new project.
Introduces the topic of conversation.
chat on
They chat on Discord every night.
Shows the platform or medium used.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using chat for very formal communication

Chat usually describes informal conversation.

✕ We chatted the contract terms in the board meeting. ✓ We discussed the contract terms in the board meeting.

Forgetting the preposition before a person

Chat normally takes with or to before a person.

✕ I chatted my neighbour yesterday. ✓ I chatted with my neighbour yesterday.

Using about for a person

About introduces a topic, not the conversation partner.

✕ She chatted about her manager for an hour. ✓ She chatted with her manager for an hour.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We chatted ___ the waiter while waiting for our food.
2. They were chatting ___ their travel plans.
3. She often chats ___ her sister on the phone.

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Frequently asked questions

Is chat with more common than chat to?

Both are standard. Chat with is often more common in American English, while chat to is especially common in British English.

Can I say chat about someone?

Yes. Chat about introduces the topic, so you can chat about a person, event, or idea.

Can chat be used without a preposition?

Yes, when no listener is named. For example: We chatted for hours.

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