# mouthful

/ˈmaʊθˌfʊɫ/ (US) · /mˈaʊθfəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mouthful
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. amount of food/drink

noun · CEFR B1

the amount of food or drink that you can put in your mouth at one time.

For teachers: the quantity of food or liquid that fills the oral cavity.

- He took a large mouthful of water after running the race.
- She managed only a small mouthful of the rich dessert before deciding it was far too sweet for her palate.

### 2. difficult to pronounce

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a word or phrase that is very long or hard to say correctly.

For teachers: a word or phrase that is phonetically complex or cumbersome to articulate.

- His full name is a bit of a mouthful, so we just call him Sam.
- The scientific name for the species is quite a mouthful, requiring even the most experienced researchers to pause before speaking.

### 3. a significant statement

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

something you say when someone has said something very true, important, or long.

For teachers: an emphatic or significant statement; often used as a reactive comment to a dense or profound remark.

- You said a mouthful there; I completely agree with your point.
- When the CEO admitted the company was failing, the lead investigator remarked that he had certainly said a mouthful.

### 4. abusive language

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · British English

a lot of angry or rude words said to someone.

For teachers: a tirade of abusive or insulting language directed at a person.

- The driver gave me a mouthful of abuse after I accidentally cut him off.
- The referee received a mouthful from the angry manager following the controversial decision to award a penalty in the final minute.

## Examples

- He took a huge mouthful of the chocolate cake.
- The full name of the government department is quite a mouthful, so most people just use the acronym.
- She paused with a mouthful of tea, considering her response carefully before swallowing and addressing the board's concerns regarding the new policy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.