Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

jab

/d͡ʒæb/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.35 in modern English

Syllables
jab
IPA
/d͡ʒæb/
12
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A quick stab or blow; a poking or thrusting motion.

noun

A short straight punch.

noun

A medical hypodermic injection (vaccination or inoculation).

British usage

noun

A vaccination, whether or not delivered by means of a conventional injection.

Australian usage; New Zealand usage; British usage

noun

A mild verbal insult.

American usage

verb

To poke or thrust abruptly, or to make such a motion.

verb

To deliver a quick punch.

verb

To give someone an injection.

British usage; Slang

Example Sentences

Etymology

Originally a Scottish (unclear if Scots or Scottish English) form of English job (“peck, poke, thrust”), from Middle English jobben.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce jab?
The recorded pronunciation is /d͡ʒæb/.
What does jab mean?
A quick stab or blow; a poking or thrusting motion.
Where does jab come from?
It is traced to English.

How to pronounce jab

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