thrift
/ˈθɹɪft/noun, verb
thrift is spelled T-H-R-I-F-T: 6 letters and one syllable. It appears 2.5 times per million words in written English, the 17,122nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, thrift means “The characteristic of using a minimum of something (especially money)” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of thrift is thrifts.
How many letters and syllables are in thrift?
| Letters | 6: T-H-R-I-F-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 |
| In writing | 2.5 times per million words; the 17,122nd 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 thrift?
Thrift appears 2.5 times per million words in written English, the 17,122nd 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 thrift?
- /ˈθɹɪft/
Thrift has one syllable.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-thrift.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of thrift
- thrifts plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- thrifting participle, present
- thrifted participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does thrift mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The characteristic of using a minimum of something (especially money).
His thrift can be seen in how little the trashman takes from his house.
- 2
USA savings bank.
Usually, home mortgages are obtained from thrifts.
- 3
Any of various plants of the genus Armeria, particularly Armeria maritima.
- 4
obsoleteSuccess and advance in the acquisition of property; increase of worldly goods; gain; prosperity; profit.
- 5
obsoleteVigorous growth, as of a plant.
verb
- 1
To shop or browse at a thrift shop; to buy (something) at a thrift shop.
They like to go thrifting on weekends.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Thrift in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | parcimonie, économie, épargne , armérie |
| German | Sparsamkeit , Grasnelke |
| Portuguese | frugalidade, economia |
| Spanish | parsimonia, parquedad, economía, ahorro |
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 thrift come from?
From Middle English thrift, thryfte, þrift, from Old Norse þrift (“thriving condition, prosperity”). Equivalent to thrive + -t.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).