switchblade
/ˈswɪt͡ʃˌbleɪd/noun, verb
switchblade is spelled S-W-I-T-C-H-B-L-A-D-E: 11 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 58,714th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, switchblade means “A folding knife with a blade which opens automatically (under spring pressure) when a button is pressed” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of switchblade is switchblades.
How many letters and syllables are in switchblade?
| Letters | 11: S-W-I-T-C-H-B-L-A-D-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 4 million words; the 58,714th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
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).
How common is switchblade?
Switchblade appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 58,714th 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 switchblade?
- /ˈswɪt͡ʃˌbleɪd/
Switchblade 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: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Wodencafe-switchblade.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with switchblade
Also written: switch-blade (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of switchblade
- switchblades plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- switch blade
- switch-blade
- switchblading participle, present
- switchbladed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does switchblade mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A folding knife with a blade which opens automatically (under spring pressure) when a button is pressed.
verb
- 1
To attack or cut with a switchblade.
- 2
To spring open or up.
- 3
To (cause to) make a sudden move or transition.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Switchblade in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense type of folding knife:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | couteau à cran d'arrêt |
| German | Springmesser |
| Spanish | navaja automática, cuchillo automático |
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 switchblade come from?
From switch + blade.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).