How to Pronounce Swift

To pronounce "swift", say SWIFT — one syllable, IPA /swɪft/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

swift

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/swɪft/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “swift”

"swift" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with shift and miffed, if that helps it stick.

What does swift mean?

noun

  1. A small plain-colored bird of the family Apodidae that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight.
  2. Any of certain lizards of the genus Sceloporus.

adjective

  1. Fast; quick; rapid.
  2. Capable of moving at high speeds.

adverb

  1. Swiftly.

Synonyms

fence lizardneedletailspinetailswiftletswith

Hear “swift” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with swift

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

shiftmiffeddriftriftliftadriftgiftmakeshiftshriftsiftclifttift

Related words

fastfleetblue-bellyspeedilyquicklyspeedyrapid

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "swift"?▾

"Swift" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "swift"?▾

The IPA transcription of "swift" is /swɪft/.

What does "swift" mean?▾

Swift: A small plain-colored bird of the family Apodidae that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight.

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