to mutter...

Question

I've noticed a few ways to say mutter in Spanish: mascullar, murmurar, musitar. Are one of these indigenous to Spain or Latin America? Or are they different levels of muttering? Also, do you know of any other way to say it?

Answer 1

Well, as I see it: mascullar is muttering like not talking loudly enough because you are not quite able to say what you want to say aka mumbling. Murmurar is muttering/complaining. Musitar seems like it might be something you do to yourself. I could be wrong. It's mostly guess work haha. . But there are many brilliant minds on this forum who will surely be able to explain more fully. :D

Grass! That's perfect! - heavensf, Mar 2, 2011

Answer 2

"Murmurar" . "refunfuñar "

Although I have heard. "refunfuñar" more as being grumpy.

Heheh! That word is hilarious! Thanks! - heavensf, Mar 2, 2011

Answer 3

Ok, complimenting DebsTheMod's comment...

Judging by the English words these resemble. Musitar would appear to me as you silence yourself or someone, because of the word Muzzle which is a comtrapment used to hold a mouth shut.

Murmurar of course would be a murmur, as in speaking softly almost whispering to someone.

So that leaves Mascullar, which i'm not familiar with any English equivalents, but that would appear to be the one to describe muttering (aka talking under your breath) as if you had something possibly offensive to say to someone, but instead you just mutter it to yourself (typically in a situation where you're angry).

That British English mussle is muzzle here in the U.S. A.. I wish that the Brit's would learn to spell their own language correctly! They had to wait for us to perfect it. :-) - 0074b507, Mar 2, 2011

Gfreed We would use the word ''to Muzzle'' and a muzzle (noun) with a Z Mussel spelt with an S is a shellfish in my Collins dictionary and that is correct - FELIZ77, Mar 2, 2011

Jaja, chequea mi perfíl amigo, soy de Tejas, EEUU. ;-) - DJ_Huero, Mar 2, 2011

Dude, are you drunk or something? What the hell is a comtrapment :-) - afowen, Mar 2, 2011

In New zealand you would say "I left him muttering in his beard" - pacofinkler, Mar 2, 2011

I think it is "contratempt" - pacofinkler, Mar 2, 2011

Answer 4

Busqué las palabras en este sitio:

http://www.wordreference.com/definicion/

Si entiendes las definiciones en español puedes compreder las diferencias entre las palabras. Note que todas tienen las palabras “hablar entre dientes.” Para mí fué un buen ejercicio para aprender y practicar. ¡Gracias! Traduje las palabras que no entendí yo. Mascular – Hablar entre dientes o pronunciar mal las palabras. Deja de mascullar y di claramente las cosas. Murmurar – 1. Producir un sonido suave y apacible (gentle) como las aguas y las hojas (leaves) de los árboles. 1. Hablar entre dientes manifestando queja (resentment) o disgusto por alguna cosa.
2. Hablar mal de alguien y sus espaldas (behind his back). Mumurarse – extenderse un rumor. Musitar – susurrar (whisper) o hablar entre dientes y apenas sin vocalizar. Refunfuñar – Hablar entre dientes o gruñir (grumble) en señal de enfado (annoyance).

Otra vez digo ¡Gracias!

traduje. - BellaMargarita, Mar 2, 2011

Traduje, traduje, traduje. Gracias, BellaMargari. - Jubilado, Mar 2, 2011