One syllable: mob.
/mɑb/
Say it backMob is a short, monosyllabic noun or verb referring to a large crowd or group of people, often with a sense of unruliness. In nouns, it describes a crowd assembled for a common purpose or, informally, the public in general. As a verb, it means to crowd or rush toward a place. The word is common in everyday speech and headlines, typically informal in register.
"A mob gathered outside City Hall after the announcement."
"News reports described a mob of fans storming the stadium."
"The protesters mobbed the entrance, causing a delay."
You pronounce it as a single syllable with initial /m/ followed by a short, open vowel and a final /b/. IPA: US /mɑːb/ or /mɑb/; UK/AU /mɒb/. Keep it brief and clipped, no long vowel or vowel shift. Tip: start with a light lip closure for /m/, drop to a short /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ vowel, then release into /b/ with a firm lip seal.
Common errors include prolonging the vowel (saying /moːb/ or /muːb/) and adding a vowel after the final /b/ (like /b/ plus a schwa). Some speakers distort the vowel toward /u/ as in ‘mop,’ or insert a separate /ə/ before /b/. To correct, keep the vowel short and unglided, end with a clean stop on /b/, and avoid lip rounding that lengthens the vowel.
In US English you’ll often hear /mɑb/ with a lax short /a/ and a sharp /b/. In UK and Australian speech, /ɒ/ is common, so /mɒb/ with a shorter, more back rounded vowel. Rhythmic timing is similar, but vowels in non-rhotic UK English can sound slightly shorter due to faster speech, while Australian may show a more centralized vowel quality in rapid speech. Keep final /b/ crisp across all variants.
The difficulty lies in producing a precise, prevented vowel and a clean final /b/ quickly, without introducing a vowel after the /b/. The short, single-syllable structure makes it easy to tense the jaw or lengthen the vowel. Focus on a brisk, closed mouth movement from /m/ to the quick /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ vowel, then snap shut on /b/. IPA cues help you monitor the timing and place.
The key is the quick, abrupt vowel and immediate boundary before /b/. Practice saying /mɑb/ in a clipped, nearly explosive fashion: lips mute, teeth barely touching, tongue relaxed for the /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ before the /b/. Visualize a short pulse: M (m) – short vowel – B (b). This helps avoid gliding vowels or a lingering /w/ or /u/ sound.
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Mob comes from the late 17th century and is short for the Latin phrase mobilitas meaning ‘mobility’ or ‘movable crowd,’ but in English it converged into a figurative sense of a large, ill-disciplined crowd. The modern usage as a dense gathering of people began to solidify in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in urban contexts where spontaneous gatherings could rapidly become unruly. The noun sense of a crowd or group evolved from a general term for people together and later took on a pejorative nuance to describe an unruly or dangerous collective. The verb sense to mob someone or something—meaning to swarm or crowd toward a target—developed from the noun’s implication of a group’s collective movement. First known uses appear in English print from the late 1600s, with the sense of “mob” as a large crowd solidifying in the 18th century. The word’s etymology reflects social dynamics: crowds form quickly, move with collective momentum, and can shift from ordinary gatherings to unruly compacts under stress or emotion. In contemporary usage, “mob” frequently appears in media, law enforcement reports, and casual conversation, retaining its connotation of a sizable, sometimes disruptive group, and also serving as a verb to describe a forced, sudden approach or entry by many people.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "mob" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "mob" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "mob" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "mob"
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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