Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

mum's the word

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.19 in modern English

Syllables
mum's the -word
IPA
22
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
2
Syllables
10
Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Indicates that something is a secret and not to be divulged.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From mum (“silence”). Recorded since 1704.

Phrases

breathe a word keep shtum under one's hat

Frequently Paired Words

breathe a word keep shtum under one's hat

Questions

What does mum's the word mean?
Indicates that something is a secret and not to be divulged.
Where does mum's the word come from?
From mum (“silence”). Recorded since 1704.

How to pronounce mum's the word

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