furtive
furt·ive/ˈfɝtɪv/adjective
furtive is spelled F-U-R-T-I-V-E: 7 letters and 2 syllables (furt·ive). It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 53,573rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, furtive means “Of a thing: done with evasive or guilty secrecy” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in furtive?
| Letters | 7: F-U-R-T-I-V-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: furt·ive |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 53,573rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is furtive?
Furtive appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 53,573rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce furtive?
- UK /ˈfɜːtɪv/
- US /ˈfɝtɪv/
- US [-ɾɪv]
Furtive has 2 syllables, split furt·ive in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-uk-furtive.oga, En-us-furtive.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with furtive?
One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as furtive from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹtɪv/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of furtive
- more furtive comparative
- most furtive superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does furtive mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Of a thing: done with evasive or guilty secrecy.
- 2
Of a thing: that has been acquired by theft; stolen; also (generally) taken stealthily.
- 3
Of a person or an animal: sly, stealthy.
- 4
Of a person, etc.: inclined to steal; pilfering, thieving.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Furtive in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | verstohlen , geheim, heimlich, Tarn- |
| Portuguese | furtivo |
| French | furtif, subreptice |
| Spanish | furtivo, sigiloso |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does furtive come from?
From Middle English *furtyve (implied in furtyvely (adverb)), from Middle French furtif, furtive (“furtive, stealthy”) (modern French furtif), from Latin fūrtīvus (“clandestine, furtive, secret; concealed, hidden; stolen”), from fūrtum (“theft; robbery”) (from fūr (“thief”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”)) + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).