Added 9 October 2026
grumble
/ˈɡɹʌmbl̩/ noun
In Latin: ganniō Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about grumble at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
verb
-
To make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals.
The distant thunder grumbles.
-
To complain; to murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.
He grumbles about the food constantly, but has yet to learn to cook.
- To utter in a grumbling fashion.
Origin
Probably from Middle French grommeler, from Old French grumeler (“to murmur, grumble”), from Middle Dutch *grommelen ("to murmur, mutter, grunt"; > Modern Dutch grommelen (“to grumble”)), frequentative of Middle Dutch grommen (“to growl, grunt”). Cognate with Middle Low German grummelen (> Low German grummeln (“to grumble”)), German grummeln (“to grumble”), Norwegian dialectal grymja (“to growl, grunt”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)