Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

spiffy

/ˈspɪfi/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.37 in modern English

Syllables: spiffy
IPA: /ˈspɪfi/

17

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Dapper; fine or neat, especially in style of clothing or other appearance.

Informal

noun

A dapper person.

Informal

noun

A spring-wire collar stay, worn by men.

Example Sentences

"He was “great” (as he expressed it) with the Bloomer who kept the bar where their club was held, and whom he styled “a spiffy girl,” and who had been graciously pleased to accept of a pair of very Brummagem-looking earrings, set with paste diamonds, with which he had presented her."
"The charming twins came last week, and you should see their clothes. ‘Spiffy’ is the word."
"Plead the fifth, sip wine stiffly / Patiently come up and be spiffy in a jiffy"
"The only neat thing about him was his collar. It was held down by a Spiffy wire stay."

Etymology

Unknown. Attested in print from 1852 (see quotations below). Compare the noun spiff, attested from 1859, as well as spiffing (1872) and spiffed (1881), suggesting participle forms of a related verb. Compare also spiv (“a smartly-dressed criminal”), attested from the 20th century.

Usage

Informal

Inflected Forms

spiffier (comparative) spiffiest (superlative) spiffies (plural)

Derived Forms

spiffily spiffiness

Phrases

spiff up spruce up

Frequently Paired Words

spiv spiff up spruce up

Synonyms

snazzy spiffing spivvy dapper dashing jaunty natty raffish rakish snappy spruce

Rhymes With

iffy jiffy griffey sniffy griffy giffy griffie riffey griffee diffee liffey biffy

Questions

How do you pronounce spiffy?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈspɪfi/.
What does spiffy mean?: Dapper; fine or neat, especially in style of clothing or other appearance.
Where does spiffy come from?: Unknown. Attested in print from 1852 (see quotations below). Compare the noun spiff, attested from 1859, as well as spiffing (1872) and spiffed (1881), suggesting participle forms of a related verb. Compare also spiv (“a smartly-dressed criminal”), attested from the 20th century.

How to pronounce spiffy

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “spiffy”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈspɪfi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “spiffy”.
Repeat and practice — Say “spiffy” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.