How to pronounce hobgoblin
Say it like hob-GOB-lin. Hobgoblin has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GOB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hobgoblin. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- hob
- GOB
- lin
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hobgoblin pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- hobKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- GOBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- linKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of hobgoblin
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: hob-GOB-lin.
What does hobgoblin mean?
- A small, ugly goblin that makes trouble for humans.
- A source of dread, fear or apprehension; a bugbear.
Where does hobgoblin come from?
From hob (“elf”, from Hob, a variant of Rob, short for Robin Goodfellow, an elf in Germanic folklore) + goblin.
Questions about saying hobgoblin
How do you pronounce hobgoblin?
Say hob-GOB-lin. The American pronunciation is /hɑbˈɡɑblɪn/. In British English it is /hɒbˈɡɒblɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hobgoblin?
Hobgoblin has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GOB). Broken into parts: hob · GOB · lin.
Is hobgoblin pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /hɒbˈɡɒblɪn/ (hob-GOB-lin).