Pronunciation: [smˈɪθ] (IPA) 
The word "smith" is spelled with the letters "s-m-i-t-h" and is pronounced as /smɪθ/. The "s" sounds like an "s" as in "snake", the "m" sounds like an "m" as in "man", the "i" sounds like an "ih" as in "sit", the "t" sounds like a "t" as in "top", and the "h" sounds like an "h" as in "hat". This word refers to a person who works with metal by forging or shaping it into useful objects.
Smith is a noun that refers to an individual who practices the art or trade of metalworking, specifically working with iron and other metals. The term "smith" is derived from the Old English word "smita" or "smythe", meaning someone who hits or strikes. Traditionally, a smith would use a hammer or other tools to shape, mold, or bend metal into various forms for practical or decorative purposes.
In ancient times, a smith played a vital role in society by creating and repairing essential items such as weapons, tools, and armor. They possessed the knowledge and skill to heat metal in a forge until it became malleable, allowing them to manipulate it into desired shapes. This required expertise in tempering, quenching, and annealing the metal to obtain the desired strength and durability.
Over the years, smiths have played a significant role in various civilizations worldwide, adapting their techniques and craftsmanship to suit different cultural and technological advancements. In modern times, while traditional blacksmithing may be less common, the term "smith" has also expanded to encompass other specialized metalworking professions, such as locksmiths, silversmiths, goldsmiths, and whitesmiths.
The art and skill of the smith have often been highly regarded, with smithing being considered both a craft and an art form. Today, some people still practice traditional or artistic smithing, preserving the historical techniques and creating unique, handcrafted metalwork.
A worker of metal with the hammer; one who smites metal into shape; a worker in metals.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "smith" originates from the Old English word "smyð", which is related to the Old Norse word "smiðr". Both words have the same meaning of "metal worker" or "blacksmith". The Old English "smyð" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "smiþaz". The term eventually evolved into the modern English word "smith" through centuries of linguistic changes.
