What does gurgle mean?
Word: Gurgle
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Gurgle means to make a low bubbling sound, as water does when it runs out of a bottle with a narrow neck.
How do you spell gurgle?
Syllables: gur - gle
Tricky part: The first vowel sound is spelt ur. Because er and ir can sound just the same, gergle and girgle are easy slips.
Watch out for: girgle, gergle
Memory tip: Hear the water go urrr down the plughole, and write that sound as a u and an r.
Gurgle in a sentence
Example 1: The baby began to gurgle in her cot when Papa sang to her.
Example 2: Water will gurgle in the old pipes when the tank fills up.
Example 3: The big bottle on the water cooler began to gurgle as Miss Rao filled her glass.
Fun Fact
This is one of the many English words that copy a sound. Say it aloud and your throat almost makes the noise of water in a pipe.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
gurg__
a) le
b) il
c) al
d) el
Show answer
a) le. The ending is le, which gives gurgle.
Spell Spies
Choose the option with no spelling errors:
a) gurgle, rustle, whisper, murmur
b) gurgle, russtle, whisper, murmer
c) gurgle, rustle, wisper, murmor
d) gurgle, ruslte, whispar, murmur
Show answer
a) gurgle, rustle, whisper, murmur. Each of the other lists has mistakes in rustle, whisper or murmur.
Sound Check
Which of the following words has the same 'g' sound as in gurgle?
a) goat
b) gentle
c) giant
d) ginger
Show answer
a) goat. Goat begins with the hard g; the other three begin with a soft j sound.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
The stream began to ___ over the smooth stones near our camp.
a) gobble
b) gurgle
c) gargle
d) giggle
Show answer
b) gurgle. Only this word describes the sound of moving water; you gargle with your own throat.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these would you most likely hear gurgle?
a) a drum in a band
b) a drain after a bath
c) a bird on a wire
d) a bell in a tower
Show answer
b) a drain after a bath
2. A baby is gurgling in the pram. How does the baby most likely feel?
a) shy and quiet
b) tired and sleepy
c) happy and content
d) cross and hungry
Show answer
c) happy and content
