Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

mumble

/ˈmʌmbəl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.91 in modern English

Syllables: mum-ble
IPA: /ˈmʌmbəl/

12

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.

Intransitive verb; Transitive verb

verb

To chew something gently with closed lips.

noun

A quiet or unintelligible vocalization; a low tone of voice.

Example Sentences

"Please try not to mumble so I can hear you better."
"Peace, you mumbling fool."
"A wrinkled hag, with age grown double, / Picking dry sticks, and mumbling to herself."
"All I could hear was a mumble from the next room."
"He spoke in a barely comprehensible mumble."

Etymology

From Middle English momelen, a frequentative of mum (sense 3) (“silent”). Compare German mümmeln, Middle Dutch mommelen and Dutch mompelen. Perhaps related to Norwegian Nynorsk mumpa (“to gum, to chew without teeth”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: momelen

Usage

Inflected Forms

mumbles (present, singular) mumbling (participle, present) mumbled (participle, past) mumbled (past) mumbles (plural)

Derived Forms

jerrycummumble mismumble mumblage mumblecore mumblement mumblenews mumbler mumblesome mumblingly mumbly

Phrases

mumble-matins mumble rap mumblety peg mumble-bee

Synonyms

mutter maunder mussitate gum

Rhymes With

humble rumble stumble tumble fumble crumble bumble jumble grumble trumbull trumble umbel

Questions

How do you pronounce mumble?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈmʌmbəl/.
What does mumble mean?: To speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.
Where does mumble come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce mumble

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “mumble”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈmʌmbəl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “mumble”.
Repeat and practice — Say “mumble” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.