sylph
Say it: SILF /sɪlf/ · noun
What “sylph” means
A slender, graceful woman or girl.
More precisely: A slender, graceful woman or girl; also an imaginary spirit of the air.
Example: “She moved across the dance floor like a sylph.”
When to use it
Use it in literary descriptions of a slender woman's graceful movement, often suggesting lightness or an airy presence.
It can also mean
In fantasy and old folklore, a sylph is an imaginary spirit of the air.
Similar words
nymph, sprite, wisp
Where it comes from
Coined by the Swiss physician Paracelsus in the 16th century.
Quick check
In a story, a slender woman glides lightly across the garden with extraordinary grace. What might the narrator call her?
an amazon or a sylph?
Show the answer
a sylph
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