What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
chirp
Example
The birds chirped happily in the trees. [chirped: past tense]
Example
I woke up to the chirping of birds outside my window. [chirping: gerund or present participle]
Example
I could hear the twittering of birds in the distance. [twittering: present participle]
Example
The sparrows twittered excitedly as they gathered twigs for their nest. [twittered: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Chirp is more commonly used than twitter in everyday language. Chirp is versatile and can be used in various contexts, while twitter is less common and may be more specific to bird-related discussions.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between chirp and twitter?
Both chirp and twitter are relatively informal words. They are commonly used in casual conversations, nature-related discussions, or when describing bird sounds in writing.