guggle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / LowInformal, Archaic/Obsolete in certain senses
Quick answer
What does “guggle” mean?
To make a gurgling, bubbling, or inarticulate sound, especially of liquid flowing from a container with an irregular or choked flow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make a gurgling, bubbling, or inarticulate sound, especially of liquid flowing from a container with an irregular or choked flow.
To speak in a guttural, throaty, or indistinct manner; to gurgle or babble incoherently.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Extremely rare and largely archaic in both varieties, with no significant dialectal distinction in current usage. Some British dialect dictionaries (e.g., English Dialect Dictionary) list it as a variant.
Connotations
Old-fashioned or dialectal. The sense of 'speaking indistinctly' may be more readily understood than the liquid sound sense today.
Frequency
Vanishingly low frequency. Likely to be encountered only in old texts, poetry for effect, or regional dialect studies.
Grammar
How to Use “guggle” in a Sentence
Something ~s (intransitive)To ~ out words (transitive with adverb particle)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guggle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The old water pump guggled noisily before sputtering to life.
- He could only guggle in shock, unable to form proper words.
American English
- The last of the soda guggled out of the two-liter bottle.
- She guggled out a protest, her mouth full of toothpaste.
adverb
British English
- Not standardly used.
American English
- Not standardly used.
adjective
British English
- A guggling brook (poetic/archaic).
American English
- The guggling sound of the drain indicated a blockage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or linguistic analysis of onomatopoeia or dialect.
Everyday
Virtually never used; 'gurgle' is the standard term.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guggle”
- Using 'guggle' instead of the common 'gurgle'.
- Confusing its spelling with 'giggle' (to laugh).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a legitimate, though rare and archaic, English word with onomatopoeic origins, found in major dictionaries like the OED.
They are near synonyms. 'Guggle' often suggests a deeper, more irregular, choked, or less pleasant sound than the more fluid and melodic 'gurgle.' 'Gurgle' is the standard modern term.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically to describe incoherent, throaty, or guttural speech, similar to 'gurgle' but perhaps more pejorative.
For learners of English, it is far more important to know and use 'gurgle.' 'Guggle' is a linguistic curiosity best reserved for understanding old texts or for specific poetic effect.
To make a gurgling, bubbling, or inarticulate sound, especially of liquid flowing from a container with an irregular or choked flow.
Guggle is usually informal, archaic/obsolete in certain senses in register.
Guggle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌɡ(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡəɡ(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The last guggle of the bottle (metaphorical for final, failing stage).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a half-empty water jug making 'GUG-GUG-GUG' sounds as you tip it.
Conceptual Metaphor
INCOHERENT SPEECH IS CHOKED LIQUID (e.g., 'He guggled an apology').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common modern synonym for 'guggle' in the context of liquid?