gamble
gam·ble/ˈɡæm.bəl/noun, verb
gamble is spelled G-A-M-B-L-E: 6 letters and 2 syllables (gam·ble). It appears 6.2 times per million words in written English, the 9,735th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, gamble means “A bet or wager” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of gamble is gambles.
How many letters and syllables are in gamble?
| Letters | 6: G-A-M-B-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: gam·ble |
| In writing | 6.2 times per million words; the 9,735th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Sounds like | |
| Rhymes with |
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); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is gamble?
Gamble appears 6.2 times per million words in written English, the 9,735th 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 gamble?
- US /ˈɡæm.bəl/
Gamble has 2 syllables, split gam·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-gamble.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with gamble
Sounds like: gambol (Wiktionary's homophone list; some hold only in some accents).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
What rhymes with gamble?
One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as gamble from its last stressed vowel (/æmbəl/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of gamble
- gambles plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- gambling participle, present
- gambled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does gamble mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A bet or wager.
I had a gamble on the horses last weekend.
- 2
A significant risk, undertaken with a potential gain.
- 3
A risky venture.
The sailors had taken many gambles with the sea and always won.
verb
- 1
To take a risk, with the potential of a positive outcome.
- 2
To play risky games, especially casino games, for monetary gain.
Mark won half a million dollars gambling on horses.
- 3
To risk (something) for potential gain.
He gambled his reputation on the outcome.
- 4
To interact with equipment at a casino.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Gamble in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | pari, jeu de hasard , parier, hasarder |
| German | Glücksspiel, Hazardspiel , spielen, spekulieren, zocken, hasardieren |
| Portuguese | aposta , arriscar , apostar |
| Spanish | timbear, escolasear, escolasar , jugada riesgosa |
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 gamble come from?
From earlier gamel, from Middle English *gamlen, *gamelen, variant of Middle English gamenen, from Old English gæmnian, gamnian, gamenian (“to joke; play”), related to Old English gamen (“joy; mirth; pleasure; entertainment; pastime; sport; game”), equivalent to game + -le. Compare Old Danish gammel, Middle High German gamel (“pleasure; fun”). More at game.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).