dabble
dab·ble/ˈdæb.əl/verb, noun
dabble is spelled D-A-B-B-L-E: 6 letters and 2 syllables (dab·ble). It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 42,680th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, dabble means “To make slightly wet or soiled by spattering or sprinkling a liquid (such as water, mud, or paint) on it; to bedabble” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in dabble?
| Letters | 6: D-A-B-B-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: dab·ble |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 42,680th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is dabble?
Dabble appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 42,680th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce dabble?
- UK /ˈdæb.əl/
- UK [ˈdæb.l̩]
- US /ˈdæb.əl/
Dabble has 2 syllables, split dab·ble in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-dabble.wav, En-au-dabble.ogg, En-us-dabble.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of dabble
- dabbles present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- dabbling participle, present
- dabbled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does dabble mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To make slightly wet or soiled by spattering or sprinkling a liquid (such as water, mud, or paint) on it; to bedabble.
- 2
To cause splashing by moving a body part like a bill or limb in soft mud, water, etc., often playfully; to play in shallow water; to paddle.
The children sat on the dock and dabbled their feet in the water.
- 3
To feed without diving, by submerging the head and neck underwater to seek food, often also tipping up the tail straight upwards above the water.
- 4
To participate or have an interest in an activity in a casual or superficial way.
She’s an actress by trade, but has been known to dabble in poetry.
- 5
obsoleteTo interfere or meddle in; to tamper with.
noun
- 1
A spattering or sprinkling of a liquid.
- 2
An act of splashing in soft mud, water, etc.
- 3
An act of participation in an activity in a casual or superficial way.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Dabble in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | barboter |
| German | platschen , gründeln , ein wenig befassen, dilettieren , Planscherei |
| Portuguese | umedecer |
| Spanish | chapotear , aventurarse en, incursionar en, experimentar con, diletar, escarcear |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does dabble come from?
From earlier dable, equivalent to dab + -le (frequentative suffix), possibly from Middle Dutch dabbelen (“to pinch; knead; to fumble; to dabble”); cognate with Icelandic dafla (“to dabble”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).