French Conversation · Level 76
59 words
French word
marmonner
Pronunciation
IPA/maʁmone/
Meaning
- verbmutter
Example
Elle marmonne souvent quand elle est fatiguée.
She often mutters when she is tired.
More examples
Il marmonne des excuses en voyant ses notes.
On seeing his notes, he mutters excuses.
Core concept
Low, blurred words repeated under the breath, often as a complaint.
Common phrases
marmonner des excuses
mutter excuses
marmonner entre ses dents
mutter between one's teeth
Similar words
murmurer: To say something in a quiet gentle voice.
grommeler: To mutter complaints angrily under the breath.
Definition in French
Exprimer des mots à mi-voix, souvent de manière répétée et peu intelligible, surtout pour se plaindre ou se parler à soi.
Word origin
Marmonner is an expressive French formation built on the sound sequence marm- and the verb-forming suffix -onner, conveying low, indistinct repeated speech.
Usage tips
- Unlike murmurer, marmonner often suggests dissatisfaction or irritation rather than a neutral, gentle murmur.
Other meanings
- mumbleverb
Opposites
- articulerarticulateverb
Related words
- marmonnementmutteringnoun
- marmonneurmutterernoun