Share this article

Good things happen to those who hustle.

I am currently reading this brilliant book about how to build a successful ‘micro-business’:

One of the most interesting concepts in this book is about hustling. I realized that I have been hearing this word a lot lately when talking about entrepreneurship and success. But what does hustle mean in English?

“All the so-called “secrets of #success” will not work unless you do.”#startup #hustle #motivation #inspiration @BrainyQuote @goodreads pic.twitter.com/aX8ylv13q1

— Jaymin Shah (@JayminSOfficial) 18. Dezember 2016

I will explain the important features of the word ‘hustle’ and how you can use it when speaking and writing in English:

What it means
How it is formed
The correct pronunciation
How you can use it in business

What does hustle mean?

Watch this video explaining what ‘hustle’ means in entrepreneurship.

Hustling means working hard and doing your best to achieve success. When you hustle, you are busy and work with a lot of energy all the time.

*Note: This article may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.

In the book ‘The $ 100 Startup”, the author writes:

“A charlatan is all talk, with nothing to back up their claims. A martyr is all action with plenty of good work to talk about, but remains unable or unwilling to do the talking. A hustler represents the ideal combination: work and talk fused together.”

Buy “The $ 100 Startup” here

Word structure of hustle

The English word ‘hustle’ can be a verb or a noun.

verb	noun (activity)	noun (person)
to hustle	hustle	hustler

How to pronounce hustle

/ˈhʌsl/

The word ‘hustle’ has two syllables, you stress the first syllable. Note that the letters ‘e’ and the ‘t’ are not pronounced.

Click on the speaker icon on the flashcards below to hear the correct pronunciation:

How to use the word hustle

You only say ‘hustling’ in informal situations when talking to people you know well. It is an informal expression.

Example sentences:

Come on, guys, let’s hustle!

He brings a lot of spirit and hustle to the team.

You have to be in the right place at the right time and hustle every day.

Study the new vocabulary

To help you study the new word, I have created these free flashcards. Here, you can study the flashcards, practice spelling and take quizzes to memorize the new word:

Memorize the new vocabulary on Quizlet