nibble
nib·ble/ˈnɪb(ə)l/verb, noun
nibble is spelled N-I-B-B-L-E: 6 letters and 2 syllables (nib·ble). It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 34,912th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, nibble means “To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something)” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in nibble?
| Letters | 6: N-I-B-B-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: nib·ble |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 34,912th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| 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 nibble?
Nibble appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 34,912th 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 nibble?
- UK /ˈnɪbl̩/
- US /ˈnɪb(ə)l/
Nibble has 2 syllables, split nib·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-nibble.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with nibble?
3 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as nibble from its last stressed vowel (/ɪbl/):
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 nibble
- nibbles present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- nibbling participle, present
- nibbled participle, past, singular, he/she/it, plural
- nybble
- nybl
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does nibble mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something).
The rabbit nibbled the lettuce.
- 2
To lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; to nip.
- 3
To make (a hole in something) through small bites.
- 4
To make (one's way) through or while taking small bites.
Before he realized it, he had nibbled his way through a whole bag of potato chips.
- 5
Chiefly followed by into or to: to cause (something) to be in a certain state through small bites.
- 6
Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites.
- 7
To remove (small pieces) from glass, tile, etc., with a tool; also, to remove small pieces from (glass, tile, etc.) with a tool.
- 8
obsoleteTo fidget or play with (something), especially with the fingers or hands.
noun
- 1
An act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken.
- 2
A light bite of a person or animal, or part of their body, especially one which is loving or playful; a nip.
- 3
An amount of food that is or can be taken into the mouth through a small bite; a small mouthful.
- 4
A slight show of interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal.
- 5
obsoleterareGrass or other vegetation eaten by livestock; forage, pasturage.
- 6
A unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Nibble in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | grignoter , nibble, quartet, semioctet, tétrade |
| German | knabbern , Nibble |
| Portuguese | comiscar, mordiscar , nibble , mordisco, beliscada |
| Spanish | apolillar, carcomer, chancomer, comisquear, comichear, comiscar |
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 nibble come from?
The verb is derived from Late Middle English nebillen, nebyll (“to peck away at (something), nibble; (figurative) to attempt to sing (a part of a song)”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Middle Low German nibbelen (“to eat in small bites, peck”) (modern German Low German nibbeln, gnibbeln, knibbeln), possibly a variant of knabbelen, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gnet- (“to press”) or imitative. The noun is derived from the verb.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).