grumble
gb/ɡɹˈʌmbəl/ us/ɡɹˈʌmbəl/
B1
English
~ 1600
morgolódik, morog, panasz, morajlik, korog
VERB
B1
1
morgolódik
B2
morog
B1
Usage pattern:
to grumble about [something]
She grumbled about the long wait at the doctor's office.
Morgolódott a hosszú várakozás miatt az orvosi rendelőben.
He grumbled under his breath as he took out the trash.
Az orra alatt morgott, miközben kivitte a szemetet.
The workers grumbled about the new schedule changes.
I could hear him grumbling to himself in the kitchen.
They grumbled at having to work late again.
Learner examples
She grumbled about the cold weather.
Morgolódott a hideg idő miatt.
He grumbled under his breath.
Az orra alatt morgott.
They grumbled about the long line.
I grumbled when I had to clean my room.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'grumble' with 'rumble', which refers to a deep sound, not complaining.
Meaning
Complain in a quiet, low way
Collocations
grumble about work
|grumble under breath
|grumble to oneself
|grumble at the delay
Synonyms
mutter (Implies speaking quietly and unclearly, often to oneself, without necessarily expressing dissatisfaction.)
|
complain (A more general term for expressing dissatisfaction; not limited to a low voice.)
Antonyms
praise (Express approval or admiration instead of dissatisfaction.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To talk in a quiet, unhappy way because you are not pleased about something.
To complain or express dissatisfaction in a low, often muffled voice.
NOUN
B1
2
panasz
B1
Usage pattern:
a grumble about [something]
His main grumble was about the lack of parking spaces.
A fő panasza az volt, hogy kevés a parkolóhely.
I have no grumbles with their service.
Nincs panaszom a szolgáltatásukra.
There were a few grumbles from the audience during the speech.
She listened patiently to his grumbles about the food.
Apart from a minor grumble, everyone seemed happy.
Learner examples
I have a small grumble about the food.
Van egy kisebb panaszom az étellel kapcsolatban.
He made a grumble about the noise.
Panaszkodott a zaj miatt.
We heard some grumbles from the crowd.
Her only grumble was that it was too hot.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'grumble' as a noun with 'rumble', which refers to a deep sound or vibration.
Meaning
A quiet complaint
Collocations
a grumble about pay
|constant grumbles
|have a grumble
|listen to grumbles
Synonyms
complaint (A more general and often more formal term for expressing dissatisfaction.)
Antonyms
compliment (An expression of praise or admiration instead of dissatisfaction.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A quiet way of saying you are not happy about something.
A quiet or low-spoken complaint or expression of unhappiness.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to grumble in [place]
My stomach began to grumble during the meeting.
A gyomrom korogni kezdett a megbeszélés alatt.
Thunder grumbled in the distance as the storm approached.
A mennydörgés a távolban morajlott, ahogy közeledett a vihar.
The old car's engine grumbled when it started up.
He could hear the volcano grumbling far below.
The dog grumbled softly in its sleep.
Learner examples
My stomach is grumbling because I am hungry.
Korog a gyomrom, mert éhes vagyok.
Thunder is grumbling outside.
Odakint morajlik a mennydörgés.
The car engine is grumbling.
The dog is grumbling in its bed.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with complaining; here it refers to a physical sound, not speech.
Meaning
Make a low continuous sound
Collocations
stomach grumbles
|thunder grumbles
|engine grumbles
Synonyms
rumble (A more common term for deep, continuous sounds; often interchangeable in this context.)
Antonyms
remain silent (No sound is produced.)
Themes
nature
|sounds
|weather
|body
Definition
To make a low, deep sound for a while, like your stomach when you are hungry.
To produce a low, continuous, and often indistinct sound, similar to distant thunder or an empty stomach.
Grammar
Dictionary form
grumble
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈʌmbəl/
US/ɡɹˈʌmbəl/
Syllables & stress
grumble (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (grumble)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: grumble
- Plural: grumbles
Verb
- Base: grumble
- 3rd Person Singular: grumbles
- Present Participle: grumbling
- Past: grumbled
Word family
Forms
grumbles
noun
grumbling
verb
grumbled
verb
Core family
grumbler
noun
Related words
grumpy
adjective
Advanced or less common
grumbly
adjective
Expressions
grumble about
1/ɡɹˈʌmbəl əbˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
Complain quietly about something
To say in a quiet way that you are not happy about something.
Examples
- She always grumbles about the weather in winter.
- He grumbled about having to work late again.
grumble under one's breath
1/ɡɹˈʌmbəl ˈʌndɚ wˈʌnz bɹˈɛθ/
fixed phrase
Complain so others can't hear clearly
To speak quietly in an unhappy way so that other people cannot hear clearly.
Examples
- He walked away, grumbling under his breath.
- She grumbled under her breath about the unfair rules.