sniffle
/ˈsnɪf.əl/verb, noun
sniffle is spelled S-N-I-F-F-L-E: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 74,122nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, sniffle means “To make a whimpering or sniffing sound when breathing, because of a runny nose” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in sniffle?
| Letters | 7: S-N-I-F-F-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 6 million words; the 74,122nd 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 and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; 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 sniffle?
Sniffle appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 74,122nd 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 sniffle?
- US /ˈsnɪf.əl/
- /ˈsnəf.əl/
Sniffle has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-sniffle.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with sniffle?
2 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as sniffle from its last stressed vowel (/ɪfəl/):
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 sniffle
- sniffles present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- sniffling participle, present
- sniffled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does sniffle mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To make a whimpering or sniffing sound when breathing, because of a runny nose.
Her dad heard her sniffling and passed her a handkerchief.
- 2
To utter with a whimpering or sniffing sound.
He sniffled a pathetic apology.
noun
- 1
The act, or the sound of sniffling; the condition of having a runny or wet nose, as from a cold or allergies.
I sometimes have a sniffle during allergy season.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Sniffle in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | schnüffeln |
| Portuguese | fungar o nariz |
| Spanish | sorberse los mocos, moquear , moqueo , moqueadera |
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 sniffle come from?
From sniff + -le (frequentative suffix). Compare snivel.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).