shortwave
short·wave/ˈʃoɹtˌweɪv/noun, adjective, adverb
shortwave is spelled S-H-O-R-T-W-A-V-E: 9 letters and 2 syllables (short·wave). It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 52,337th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, shortwave means “An electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; specifically, one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of shortwave is shortwaves.
How many letters and syllables are in shortwave?
| Letters | 9: S-H-O-R-T-W-A-V-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: short·wave |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 52,337th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
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).
How common is shortwave?
Shortwave appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 52,337th 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 shortwave?
- UK /ˈʃɔːtweɪv/
- US /ˈʃoɹtˌweɪv/
Shortwave has 2 syllables, split short·wave in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Naomi_Persephone_Amethyst_(NaomiAmethyst)-shortwave.wav, En-us-shortwave.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with shortwave
Also written: short-wave (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of shortwave
- shortwaves plural
- short-wave
- short wave
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does shortwave mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
An electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; specifically, one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz.
Shortwaves are longer than microwaves.
- 2
Downward radiation in the shortwave (noun sense 1) frequency range which enters the Earth's atmosphere.
- 3
A waveband comprising radio waves in the shortwave (noun sense 1) frequency range, especially when used in broadcasting.
Many stations broadcast on shortwaves.
- 4
In full shortwave radio: a radio which is able to receive radio waves in the shortwave (noun sense 1) waveband.
adjective
- 1
Of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz.
- 2
Of radio equipment: capable of receiving or transmitting radio signals at wavelengths in the above range.
adverb
- 1
Using radio waves having wavelengths of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to frequencies between 3 and 30 megahertz.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Shortwave in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | onde courte |
| German | Kurzwelle , kurzwellig |
| Portuguese | onda curta |
| Spanish | onda corta |
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 shortwave come from?
The noun is derived from short (adjective) + wave (noun). The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun. The adverb is also derived from the noun.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).