<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084580</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JEFFERIES GROUP INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JEF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180442</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FELLER LLOYD H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JEFFERIES &amp; COMPANY, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>520 MADISON AVE 12TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. VP, GC and Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>58.3903</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.4237</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>157646</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>72.9995</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>157719</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquisition of deferred shares upon dividend reinvestments under the Jefferies Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Does not include 593 shares indirectly held by the Reporting Person by the Trustee of the Jefferies Group, Inc. Employees' Stock Ownership Plan for the benefit of the Reporting Person, and does not include 10.8 shares indirectly held by the Reporting Person by the Trustee under the Jefferies Group, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan for the benefit of the Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Acquisition of restricted stock units as a result of dividend reinvestments under the Jefferies Group, Inc. 2003 Incentive Compensation Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Roland T. Kelly, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
