# mumble

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈmʌmbəl/ · frequency rank #32,508

## Definitions
1. To speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.
2. To chew something gently with closed lips.

## Etymology
From Middle English momelen, a frequentative of mum (sense 3) (“silent”). Compare German mümmeln, Middle Dutch mommelen and Dutch mompelen. Perhaps related to Norwegian Nynorsk mumpa (“to gum, to chew without teeth”).

## Easily confused with
- **muscle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mumble-vs-muscle)
- **muzzle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mumble-vs-muzzle)
- **mule** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mule-vs-mumble)
- **marble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marble-vs-mumble)
- **Mumbai** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mumbai-vs-mumble)
- **muddle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/muddle-vs-mumble)

## Common misspellings (9)
`mmuble`, `mmumble`, `mubmle`, `mumbble`, `mumbel`, `mumblle`, `mumlbe`, `mummble`, `ummble`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mumble