hobble
hob·ble/ˈhɒbəl/noun, verb
hobble is spelled H-O-B-B-L-E: 6 letters and 2 syllables (hob·ble). It appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 58,714th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, hobble means “One of the short straps tied between the legs of unfenced horses, allowing them to wander short distances but preventing them from running off” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of hobble is hobbles.
How many letters and syllables are in hobble?
| Letters | 6: H-O-B-B-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: hob·ble |
| In writing | about once in every 4 million words; the 58,714th 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 hobble?
Hobble appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 58,714th 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 hobble?
- /ˈhɒbəl/
Hobble has 2 syllables, split hob·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-hobble.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of hobble
- hobbles plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- hobbling participle, present
- hobbled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does hobble mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
One of the short straps tied between the legs of unfenced horses, allowing them to wander short distances but preventing them from running off.
- 2
An unsteady, off-balance step.
- 3
archaicinformalA difficult situation; a scrape.
- 4
UKAn odd job; a piece of casual work.
verb
- 1
To fetter by tying the legs; to restrict (a horse) with hobbles.
Near-synonyms: shackle, enshackle
- 2
To walk lame, or unevenly.
- 3
To move or proceed roughly or irregularly.
- 4
To disable; to impede.
Near-synonyms: nobble, hamper, hinder, embarrass
- 5
UKobsoleteslangTo commit (a person) for trial.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Hobble in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | entrave, abot , boiter |
| German | Fußfessel, Spannstrick |
| Spanish | manea, suelta, atadura , manear |
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 hobble come from?
From Middle English hobblen, hobelen, akin to Middle Dutch hoblen, hobbelen (Modern Dutch hobbelen), Middle High German hoppeln (“to hop, limp, hobble”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).