What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
murmur
Example
The murmur of the river was calming. [murmur: noun]
Example
She murmured her thanks as she accepted the gift. [murmured: past tense verb]
mutter
Example
He muttered under his breath when he saw the long line. [muttered: past tense verb]
Example
She muttered something about the food being too spicy. [mutter: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mutter is more commonly used than murmur in everyday language. Mutter is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while murmur is less common and refers to specific types of sounds or speech.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between murmur and mutter?
Both murmur and mutter are informal words, but murmur can be used in more formal contexts due to its positive or neutral connotations.
