How to pronounce babble
Say it like BAB-ul. Babble has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAB).
- BAB
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Babble pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BABSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of babble
American and British speakers say babble in essentially the same way: /ˈbæbəl/ in the US and /ˈbæbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAB-ul.
What does babble mean?
- To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds“The men were babbling, so we couldn't make sense of anything.”
- To talk incoherently; to utter meaningless words.
- To talk too much; to chatter; to prattle.“She babbled on for hours about the importance of some new gadget.”
- Idle talk; senseless prattle.
- Inarticulate speech; constant or confused murmur.
- A sound like that of water gently flowing around obstructions.
Where does babble come from?
Cognate with Saterland Frisian babbelje (“to babble”), West Frisian babbelje (“to babble”), Dutch babbelen (“to babble, chat”), German Low German babbeln (“to babble”), German babbeln (“to babble”), Danish bable, bavle (“to babble”), Swedis
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with babble
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of babble.
Words that sound like babble
Questions about saying babble
How do you pronounce babble?
Say BAB-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈbæbəl/. In British English it is /ˈbæbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in babble?
Babble has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAB). Broken into parts: BAB · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say babble the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbæbəl/ and the British form is /ˈbæbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as babble?
Babble sounds the same as Babel in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.