real talk

American  

[ree-uhl tawk, reel tawk] / ˈri əl ˌtɔk, ˈril ˌtɔk /

adverb

1. Informal. while getting down to honest, serious discussion; frankly; seriously (used to introduce a statement or question).

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noun

1. Informal. honest, serious discussion or conversation as opposed to light or superficial chatting.

Other Word Forms

• real-talking
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

real talk

Berlin at war, how the brain makes time, Judy Blume’s real talk for young readers and more.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026

The 32-year-old had been absent for nine matches with a thigh injury and there had been no real talk of a return.

From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2026

“I give my audience real talk, real authenticity.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2025

Smoked salt is definitely a good place to start — especially, and this is real talk, sprinkled on dark chocolate chip cookies.

From Salon ● May 28, 2022

They knew how to fire up a church the old-fashioned way, without talk of politics and bad mouthing and negativity but with real talk of God and genuine concern for its parishioners.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride