How to pronounce swift
Say it like SWIFT. Swift is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce swift. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SWIFT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Swift pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SWIFTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of swift
American and British speakers say swift in essentially the same way: /swɪft/ in the US and /swɪft/ in the UK.
British respelling: SWIFT.
What does swift mean?
- moving very fast“fleet of foot”“the fleet scurrying of squirrels”
- United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)
- an English satirist born in Ireland (1667-1745)
- a small bird that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight
Where does swift come from?
From Middle English swift, from Old English swift (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Germanic *swiftaz (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weyp- (“to twist; wind around”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with swift
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of swift.
Questions about saying swift
How do you pronounce swift?
Say SWIFT. The American pronunciation is /swɪft/. In British English it is /swɪft/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in swift?
Swift is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SWIFT.
Do Americans and Brits say swift the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /swɪft/ and the British form is /swɪft/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.