Another verb for "talking to oneself"?

Some people sometimes talk to themselves. That does not necessarily mean they are mad or mentally ill. But, interestingly, people don't do that in front of other people, they do that when they think nobody is around, because talking to oneself is considered a sign of madness!

Anyway, the other day I was walking in the street and saw this guy talking to himself; he was ....

What verb should I put in the blank to mean talking to himself?

I just like to maintain that I am looking for a "verb", and that I am aware of the nouns for that kind of action, nouns such as "monologue" and "soliloquy". And, anyway, these two examples seem to mean rather long talking to oneself as in movies and theater, and thus they might not be good nouns for talking to oneself in the street, because such talking might consist in just one single sentence.

Solution 1:

The guy is just thinking out loud. -- TFD

Fig. Saying things that might better remain as private thoughts. (A way of characterizing or introducing one's opinions or thoughts. Also past tense.)

Sue: What are you saying, anyway? Sounds like you're scolding someone.
Bob: Oh, sorry. I was just thinking out loud.

Bob: Now, this goes over here.
Bill: You want me to move that?
Bob: Oh, no. Just thinking out loud.

Solution 2:

The answer is in your question.

See soliloquize, defined by merriam webster as

to utter a soliloquy : talk to oneself

Solution 3:

mutter

verb (used without object)
1. to utter words indistinctly or in a low tone, often as if talking to oneself; murmur

Dictionary.com

Solution 4:

Or simply use the verb forms of the nouns in your question:

Monologue -- Wiktionary

(verb) To deliver a monologue.

Powerful parents, in her formulation, feeling themselves autonomous and powerful, give autonomy and power to their children; powerless ones, feeling themselves passive and controlled, in turn exert an excessive control on their children, and monologue at them, instead of having a dialogue with them. - 1989, Oliver Sacks, Seeing Voices

Solution 5:

If the person is attempting to explain or understand something technical, then they may be rubber ducking

UrbDict or C2 and its own site https://rubberduckdebugging.com/

The rubber duck debugging method is as follows:

1. Beg, borrow, steal, buy, fabricate or otherwise obtain a rubber duck (bathtub variety).

2. Place rubber duck on desk and inform it you are just going to go over some code with it, if that’s all right.

3. Explain to the duck what your code is supposed to do, and then go into detail and explain your code line by line.
4. At some point you will tell the duck what you are doing next and then realise that that is not in fact what you are actually doing. The duck will sit there serenely, happy in the knowledge that it has helped you on your way.

Note: In a pinch a coworker might be able to substitute for the duck, however, it is often preferred to confide mistakes to the duck instead of your coworker.

Original Credit: ~Andy from lists.ethernal.org

Also known as sound boarding