How Do You Spell HOODLUM?

Pronunciation: [hˈʊdləm] (IPA)

Hoodlum is a term used to describe a delinquent or troublemaker. The spelling of this word is h-oo-d-l-u-m. In IPA phonetic transcription, it can be written as /ˈhʊdləm/. The first syllable, "hood," is pronounced with a short u sound (ʊ) and is followed by the consonants d and l. The second syllable, "lum," is pronounced with a schwa sound (ə) and ends with the consonant m. The word hoodlum is believed to have originated in San Francisco in the late 19th century.

HOODLUM Meaning and Definition

1. A hoodlum is a term commonly used to describe an individual who engages in unlawful or disruptive behavior, typically associated with criminal activity or antisocial conduct. The word often conveys a sense of aggression, defiance, or rebelliousness towards social norms and authority figures.

   A hoodlum is commonly characterized by their involvement in illegal activities such as theft, vandalism, or drug-related offenses. They are frequently associated with street gangs, organized crime, or other illicit networks. The term may also refer to a troublemaker or a person who displays a disregard for the law and disrespects the rights and safety of others.

   Hoodlums often exhibit a distinctive style or appearance, with their clothing, accessories, or tattoos expressing their affiliation with a particular gang or criminal group. They may also use intimidation tactics or violence to establish and maintain their dominance within their local communities.

   While the term hoodlum primarily connotes criminal behavior, it is worth noting that not all individuals classified as such are inherently evil or irredeemable. Some may be victims of their circumstances or may engage in criminal activities due to a lack of opportunities, poverty, or peer pressure. However, the label itself carries negative implications, suggesting a propensity for engaging in unlawful acts and antisocial behavior.

Top Common Misspellings for HOODLUM *

• hoodalum 100%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for HOODLUM

• hoodelums
• hoodlems
• goodlum
• boodlum
• noodlum
• joodlum
• uoodlum
• yoodlum
• hiodlum
• hkodlum
• hlodlum
• hpodlum
• h0odlum
• hoodelum
• hoodlem
• hoohum
• Moodum
• Goodluk
• hoodlyke
• Horodelum
• houdlum

Etymology of HOODLUM

The word "hoodlum" originated in the United States in the mid-19th century. Its exact etymology is not entirely clear, but there are a few theories about its origin.

One theory suggests that "hoodlum" comes from the German dialect word "Hudelum" or "Hudellump", which means a disorderly or rowdy person. German immigrants to the United States might have brought this term with them.

Another theory links "hoodlum" to the word "huddle", referring to a group of people gathering together, often in a disruptive or menacing manner. It is suggested that "hoodlum" derives from the image of a group of disorderly people huddled together.

There is also a theory that "hoodlum" could be connected to the Irish surname "Houlihan" or "Hoolihan".

Plural form of HOODLUM is HOODLUMS