Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

swaddle

/ˈswɔdəl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.19 in modern English

Syllables
swad-dle
IPA
/ˈswɔdəl/
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To bind (a baby) with long narrow strips of cloth.

verb

To beat; cudgel.

Archaic

noun

Anything used to swaddle with, such as a cloth or band.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English swathlen (“to bind; swaddle”), from Middle English swathel, swethel, from Old English swaþul, swæþel, sweþel, sweoþol (“swaddling cloth”), equivalent to swathe (“to wrap with fabric”) + -le (agent/instrumental suffix), the word then underwent th-stopping (its voiced th became a d). Cognate with Middle Dutch swadel (“swaddling; bandage”), Old High German swedili (“poultice”), Old English sweþian, besweþian (“to wrap; swaddle”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈswɔdəl/
  • British English: /ˈswɒdəl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

swaddles (present, singular) swaddling (participle, present) swaddled (participle, past) swaddled (past) swaddles (plural)

Derived Forms

beswaddle swaddler unswaddle

Frequently Paired Words

swaddling

Synonyms

swathe

Rhymes With

model waddle coddle doddle dawdle toddle hodl mollycoddle broddle

Questions

How do you pronounce swaddle?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈswɔdəl/.
What does swaddle mean?
To bind (a baby) with long narrow strips of cloth.
Where does swaddle come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce swaddle

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