monosyllable

1. N-COUNT If you say that someone speaks in monosyllables, you mean that they speak very little or they only use words consisting of one syllable, such as "yes," "no," or "I don't know," usually because they do not want to have a conversation. 少言寡语[usu 'in' N in pl]

A taciturn man, he replied to my questions in monosyllables. 他不爱说话，对我的问题都只用一两个字来回答。