swivel
/ˈswɪvəl/noun, verb
swivel is spelled S-W-I-V-E-L: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 29,270th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, swivel means “A piece, such as a ring or hook, attached to another piece by a pin, in such a manner as to permit rotation about the pin as an axis” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of swivel is swivels.
How many letters and syllables are in swivel?
| Letters | 6: S-W-I-V-E-L |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 29,270th 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 swivel?
Swivel appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 29,270th 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 swivel?
- /ˈswɪvəl/
Swivel 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-swivel.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of swivel
- swivels plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- swiveling US, participle, present
- swivelling UK, participle, present
- swiveled US, participle, past
- swivelled UK, participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does swivel mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A piece, such as a ring or hook, attached to another piece by a pin, in such a manner as to permit rotation about the pin as an axis.
- 2
A small piece of ordnance, turning on a point or swivel; called also swivel gun.
- 3
slangStrength of mind or character that enables one to overcome adversity; confidence; force of will.
Bob ain't got no swivel.
- 4
The act of swivelling.
- 5
A rotating of the hips.
- 6
A small, usually ball- or barrel-shaped device used in angling to connect sections of fishing lines, consisting of two rings linked via a thrust bearing pivot joint.
verb
- 1
To swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Swivel in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | émerillon, pivot , pivoter |
| German | Wirbel , drehen, rotieren, schwenken, schwingen, wirbeln |
| Portuguese | elo giratório |
| Spanish | eslabón giratorio, pivote , girar, pivotar |
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 swivel come from?
From Middle English swyvel, swivel, from a derivative of Old English swīfan (“to revolve”), + -el, an instrumental suffix, equivalent to swive + -el.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).