Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

skiffy

/ˈskɪfi/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: skiffy
IPA: /ˈskɪfi/

19

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Low-quality science fiction.

Derogatory; Humorous; Slang; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The science fiction reader sneers at fake SF, artificially produced film tie-in novels and stories, most SF films, most TV SF. This he calls sci-fi (or "skiffy")—junk no right-thinking omnivore or chronic should read, watch, or support."
"Many of the best new writers seem openly ashamed of their backward Skiffy nationality."
"Around 1978 the critic Susan Wood and others began pronouncing the term "skiffy". In 1980s-1990s usage "skiffy", which sounds friendlier than "sci fi", has perhaps for that reason come to be less condemnatory. Skiffy is colourful, sometimes entertaining, junk sf: Star Wars is skiffy."

Etymology

A phonetic spelling of sci-fi to convey its deliberate mispronunciation (with "sc" being read as /sk/ and "i" being read as short vowel /i/ instead of diphthong /aɪ/).

Usage

Rhymes With

iffy jiffy spiffy liffey biffy stiffy cliffy sniffy miffy squiffy whiffy niffy

Questions

How do you pronounce skiffy?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈskɪfi/.
What does skiffy mean?: Low-quality science fiction.
Where does skiffy come from?: A phonetic spelling of sci-fi to convey its deliberate mispronunciation (with "sc" being read as /sk/ and "i" being read as short vowel /i/ instead of diphthong /aɪ/).

How to pronounce skiffy

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