What does sniffle mean?
To sniffle is to draw air through the nose in short, noisy breaths, usually because the nose is blocked by a cold or because tears are nearby. The associated noun, a sniffle, refers either to the sound made by this repeated breathing or to the act of doing it. Although the word can describe a simple bodily reaction, it often carries a gentle, affectionate, or slightly humorous tone, especially when used about children. A child may begin to sniffle before bursting into tears, and a person with a cold may sniffle repeatedly into a handkerchief. The word is also used figuratively for a small, persistent nasal sound that suggests illness, discomfort, or suppressed emotion. In everyday English, it is more specific than simply sniffing: one sniff is a single inhalation, while sniffling consists of several audible, repeated breaths.
To breathe through the nose in short, repeated, noisy breaths, especially because of a cold, crying, or irritation.
"She sniffled all night because of her blocked nose."
Often used of children, people with colds, or someone trying not to cry.
A short, repeated sound made by breathing through the nose, or the act of making such a sound.
"He heard a quiet sniffle from the other side of the room."
The singular often refers to one person or one episode of repeated nasal breathing; the plural sniffles commonly suggests a cold or crying.
The plural is common in phrases referring to a cold or repeated nasal breathing and can suggest either a runny nose or suppressed tears.
"Her sniffles kept the whole class awake."
A sniffle is the sound of a cold arriving in miniature—and sometimes the first sign that tears are about to fall.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sniffle come from?
Sniffle is a diminutive formation built on the verb sniff with the suffix -le, which gives the word an expressive and repetitive quality. The word has been used in English since the early modern period, initially especially in the sense of making a repeated nasal sound. Its close relatives include sniff and the derived sniffy, while sniffily belongs to the same productive family of forms.
Related word forms
How sniffle is actually used
The word is commonly associated with children, colds, and suppressed crying. It is generally neutral or mildly endearing, though it can sound dismissive when used about someone who is openly weeping.
Easily confused with sniffle
A sniff is a single breath drawn through the nose, whereas a sniffle consists of repeated, audible breaths through the nose.
A snuffle is a deeper, more prolonged nasal breathing sound, often associated with holding back tears, while a sniffle is usually a short, repeated sound.