🇬🇧🇪🇸 shuttlecock - volante : English Lesson

Meaning of "shuttlecock" ("volante"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

A shuttlecock is the small, light object you hit when you play badminton. It has a round, rubbery tip on one end and real or plastic feathers (or a feather-shaped skirt) on the other end. You hit the shuttlecock with a badminton racket to send it over the net to the other player. Because it is light and has feathers, it can float and glide slowly through the air instead of just dropping straight down, which makes the game fun and easier to follow with your eyes.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

I tried to serve the shuttlecock, but I hit myself on the head instead, so I guess my head won the point.

Grandpa said he’d show us his badminton skills, then totally missed the shuttlecock and fell in the flowerbed.

Our shuttlecock is so old the feathers look like it just woke up from a hundred-year nap.

The shuttlecock flew over the net, over the fence, and straight into our neighbor’s spaghetti sauce.

A shuttlecock is also called a “birdie,” but it doesn’t tweet or chirp—unless you count me squeaking when it hits me in the face.

A child lunged, catching the soaring shuttlecock before it hit sand. He held the white shuttlecock close, feathers ruffled, and tossed the shuttlecock back. A friend leapt, smacked the shuttlecock across the net. The shuttlecock flipped, feather tips glinting in sun. Both laughed, panting, clutching the last fallen shuttlecock with wide, happy eyes.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.