What this suffix does
-winged describes the type or size of an animal's wings: broad-winged, swift-winged. It is a more literary/poetic adjective, more common in nature writing than everyday conversation.
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Suffix · forms adjectives
-winged
Describes the type or size of wings: broad-winged (having broad wings) and swift-winged (fast in flight).
In Spanish: alado / de alas / con alasIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
How it is formed
Adjective + winged.
- broad + wingedbroad-winged (having broad wings)
- swift + wingedswift-winged (fast in flight)
- four + wingedfour-winged (having four wings)
This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.
How it is pronounced
-winged
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -winged
In a phrase
- swiftswift-wingedThe swift-winged falcon caught up to its prey in seconds.
- broadbroad-wingedThe broad-winged hawk circled above the field.
- darkdark-wingedA dark-winged bird landed on the fence.
- silversilver-wingedThe story describes a silver-winged dragon.
- fourfour-wingedDragonflies are four-winged insects.
Common mistakes
-winged compounds are only used for birds
-winged is used for any creature, aircraft, or mythological entity with wings
"-winged" can apply to insects (four-winged, broad-winged), aircraft (silver-winged), mythological beings (dark-winged, swift-winged Hermes), and any entity characterised by its wings. In poetry and high literary prose the compound is frequently applied metaphorically — a swift-winged thought, a dark-winged mood — where the wings describe the quality of movement or approach of an abstraction.
swift-winged = having wings shaped like those of a swift (the bird)
swift-winged = flying swiftly; having wings that move or carry their bearer with speed
"Swift-winged" means flying swiftly, not specifically having the wing shape of a swift (the bird). The compound follows the pattern of -legged and -hearted: the first element is an adverb or adjective that describes the quality, not a noun that specifies the shape. Swift-winged = having wings that move swiftly.
A trick to remember it
"Winged" = winged, literal. Picture the size or speed of the wings: broad-WINGED = wide, large wings, swift-WINGED = wings built for fast flight.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"swift-winged" describes a bird that is...
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -winged mean in English?
The suffix -winged describes the type or size of wings: broad-winged (having broad wings) and swift-winged (fast in flight). In Spanish it usually maps to alado / de alas / con alas.
Can you give an example of a word with -winged?
"swift" becomes "swift-winged". It is a typical example of the -winged suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-born
Forms adjectives about birth: firstborn, newborn, foreign-born (born in another country). Also common in fantasy/historical novels for social class: highborn (noble birth), lowborn (humble birth).
-clad
Means "dressed in" or "covered with": ivy-clad (covered in ivy) and ironclad (armor-plated; also "foolproof").
-footed
Describes how someone moves or how steady they are: sure-footed (steady, doesn't stumble) and flat-footed (caught off guard; also flat feet).
Learn every English suffix
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