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

Clinton Kelly and Stacy London return as its hosts, older, wiser and atoning for the tough love and scathing real talk they once doled out to style-challenged guests.

From Salon ● Jan. 17, 2026

Lawrence’s new stand-up show will be a “fresh one-hour set where Martin brings the real talk and finds the funny in everything from family to culture as only he can,” according to a press release.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2024

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