Words / B1

work-ee-TORK-ee/ˌwɔːki ˈtɔːki/

A walkie-talkie (id: walkie-talkie) is a small handheld radio for talking over a short distance, used by security, festivals, and children at play. Keep the hyphen. It is not a mobile phone and not an earpiece on its own. Over the walkie-talkie. Countable.

Meaning

A small handheld radio for talking over a short distance.

Examples

• “The security staff used a walkie-talkie at the supermarket doors.”
• “Staff on the till called the stockroom on a walkie-talkie for a price check.”
• “The batteries in the walkie-talkie died halfway through the school trip.”

Good to know

a walkie-talkie (hyphenated). Contrast: a mobile / a headset. over the walkie-talkie.

Near in meaning

two-way radio

New