What does swiftlet mean?
In modern English, swiftlet is an ornithological noun for a small swift, particularly a bird in the genus Aerodramus of the family Apodidae. It is a broad group name rather than the name of a single species, and many individual birds are distinguished by compound names such as white-rumped swiftlet, grey-rumped swiftlet, and brown-rumped swiftlet. The word can be understood literally as “a little swift”: it combines swift with the diminutive suffix -let. In specialist descriptions, however, swiftlet is a conventional taxonomic term and should not be used as a general synonym for any small or fast-moving bird. It appears chiefly in bird guides, field guides, ornithological studies, and discussions of the swift family. Outside such contexts, the word is uncommon, so a reader encountering it should understand that it refers specifically to small members of Apodidae rather than to a generic little creature. Its principal value is taxonomic precision within the swift family.
nounA swiftlet is any of various small swifts, especially those in the genus Aerodramus in the family Apodidae. The term is used chiefly in ornithology.
- A small swift, especially a member of the genus Aerodramus in the family Apodidae.
"A white-rumped swiftlet darted between the palms before disappearing over the ridge."
"The guide describes a tiny swiftlet with a white rump and a deeply forked tail."
"Researchers recorded several swiftlets nesting beneath the roof of the observation tower."
The regular plural is 'swiftlets,' with no special usage.
"Pairs of swiftlets circled above the cliffs."
The '-let' suggests 'little swift,' but swiftlet is a conventional bird-group term, not a casual label for anything small and fast.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How swiftlet is actually used
The word is specialized and chiefly occurs in ornithological contexts such as field guides, species accounts, and scientific publications. It is more specific than the general word 'swift' and should not be used merely as a synonym for any small or fast-moving bird.