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"Mutter" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "murmurar", and "mumble" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "mascullar". Learn more about the difference between "mutter" and "mumble" below.
mutter(
muh
-
duhr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. murmurar
Janet muttered some sort of apology as she fixed her gaze on her shoes.Janet murmuró algo que parecía una disculpa sin levantar la vista de los zapatos.
b. farfullar
The young boy muttered a few words and then burst into tears.El chico farfulló unas palabras y luego se echó a llorar.
c. decir entre dientes
Several passengers were muttering prayers as we came in to land.Varios pasajeros estaban diciendo oraciones entre dientes según nos acercábamos a la pista de aterrizaje.
d. mascullar
The boy muttered insults after he lost the fight.El niño mascullaba insultos tras perder la pelea.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
b. farfullar
The old guy was still muttering to himself as he left the store.El viejo seguía farfullando mientras salía de la tienda.
c. hablar entre dientes
The inspector was muttering but he didn't say anything out loud.El inspector estaba hablando entre dientes pero no dijo nada en voz alta.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el murmullo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
There were a few angry mutters when the boss announced the news.Hubo unos murmullos enojados cuando el jefe anunció la noticia.
mumble(
muhm
-
buhl
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to mutter)
a. mascullar
The woman at the desk mumbled something, but I couldn't quite make it out.La mujer en el escritorio masculló algo, pero casi no pude oír lo que dijo.
b. hablar entre dientes
I couldn't understand what that man was asking because he was mumbling all of his words.No pude entender lo que ese hombre preguntaba porque hablaba todo entre dientes.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el murmullo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Cordelia was delirious with fever and spoke in indiscernible mumbles.Cordelia deliraba de fiebre y hablaba en murmullos indistinguibles.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
"You'll pay for this," said the criminal in a mumble."Me las pagarás," masculló el reo.
Bart tends to speak in a mumble and avoid eye contact.Bart tiene la tenencia de hablar entre dientes y evitar el contacto visual.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
3. (to murmur)
a. mascullar
The sulky teenager mumbled and went back to looking at his phone.El adolescente enfurruñado masculló y volvió a mirar su celular.
b. farfullar
The super was mumbling and had a nasty look on his face when he passed me in the hall.El portero farfullaba y tenía cara de enojo cuando me pasó en el pasillo.
