mumble
UK: ˈmʌm.bəl | US: ˈmʌm.bəl
vi. to speak quietly and unclearly, often with the mouth nearly closed
vt. to say something indistinctly or in a low voice
n. a quiet, unclear utterance
mumble = mum<silent> + ble<frequentative verb suffix>
- mum: From Middle English mum ("silent"), likely imitative of closed-mouth sounds.
- ble: A frequentative suffix indicating repetitive or habitual action (cf. grumble, stumble).
Etymology Origin:
The word mumble originated in Late Middle English as an onomatopoeic term, mimicking the sound of muffled or indistinct speech. The mum- root evokes silence or murmuring, while -ble suggests a repeated action. Over time, it evolved to describe unclear or hesitant speech, reflecting its imitative roots.
He tends to mumble when he’s nervous.
"I’m sorry," she mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
The old man mumbled to himself as he shuffled down the street.
Don’t mumble—speak clearly so everyone can hear you.
The actor mumbled his lines, making the dialogue hard to follow.