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Prepositions after gossip

gossip with different prepositions

Gossip is usually followed by about for the topic or with for the person involved in the conversation. Other prepositions have more limited uses.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows gossip?

Use gossip about for the subject of gossip and gossip with for the person you are talking to. Gossip to is uncommon but possible when describing the listener. Gossip in usually refers to a language or style, while gossip on is rare and mainly refers to media platforms or channels.

They gossiped about their neighbours.
She gossiped with her colleagues at lunch.
He gossiped to anyone who would listen.
The hosts gossiped on live television.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
gossip about + person or topic

Talking about the subject of gossip

Use gossip about for the person, event, or topic being discussed.

People gossiped about the celebrity wedding.
They gossiped about office politics.
2
gossip with + person

Talking socially with someone

Use gossip with for the person sharing the conversation.

I gossiped with my cousin for an hour.
She gossiped with her neighbours outside.
3
gossip to + listener

Directing gossip toward someone

Gossip to is less common and focuses on the listener rather than mutual conversation.

He gossiped to the new assistant.
She gossiped to anyone nearby.
4
gossip in + language or style

Specifying the language or form

Gossip in usually introduces a language, tone, or medium, not the topic.

They gossiped in Spanish during the break.
The article gossiped in a playful tone.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
gossip about
They gossiped about the manager.
the topic or person being discussed
gossip with
She gossiped with her sister.
the person sharing the conversation
gossip to
He gossiped to his barber.
directing gossip toward a listener
gossip in
The guests gossiped in French.
language or style used while gossiping
gossip on
Commentators gossiped on television.
location or medium; not a standard topic pattern

Common mistakes

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

Using gossip on for the topic

Use gossip about for the subject being discussed.

✕ They gossiped on their teacher. ✓ They gossiped about their teacher.

Confusing with and about

With introduces the conversation partner, while about introduces the topic.

✕ She gossiped with the scandal. ✓ She gossiped about the scandal.

Using to for mutual conversation

Use gossip with when both people participate.

✕ I gossiped to my friends all evening. ✓ I gossiped with my friends all evening.

Using in for the topic

In usually refers to language or style, not the subject matter.

✕ They gossiped in the neighbours. ✓ They gossiped about the neighbours.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We ___ our classmates after the meeting.
2. She often ___ her aunt on the phone.
3. The tourists ___ Italian during dinner.

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Frequently asked questions

Is gossip on correct?

It is uncommon as a topic pattern. It may refer to gossip happening on television, online, or another platform.

What is the difference between gossip with and gossip to?

Gossip with suggests a shared conversation. Gossip to focuses on the listener and sounds less mutual.

Can gossip be a noun and a verb?

Yes. Gossip can describe a person or information, and it can also describe the act of talking about other people.

gain, from, gain, by "gamble on" or "gamble with"? "gasp for" or "gasp in"? "gather in" or "gather at"? "gaze at" or "gaze into"? generate by, from, in, for or at? get to, into, in, out or on? giggle at, to, about, like or with? "give to", "give in" or "give by"? glance at, through, around, over or in? glare at, from, after, before or in? glean from, by, in, at or for?

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