noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈfɑːtlɛk/
General-American:/ˈfɑɹtlək/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An athletic training technique, used especially in running, in which periods of intense effort alternate with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: interval training
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
a method of athletic training (especially for runners) in which strenuous effort and normal effort alternate in a continuous exercise
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: athletic training
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Swedish fartlek, from fart (“speed”) + lek (“child’s play”).
Across languages
Translations
9 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
vauhtileikittely
— training technique in which periods of intense effort alternative with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout
Georgian:
ფარტლეკი
(parṭleḳi)
— training technique in which periods of intense effort alternative with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout
German:
Fahrtspiel
— training technique in which periods of intense effort alternative with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout
Hebrew:
אימון פארטלק
— training technique in which periods of intense effort alternative with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout
Japanese:
ファルトレク
— training technique in which periods of intense effort alternative with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout
Lithuanian:
fartlekas
— training technique in which periods of intense effort alternative with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout
Russian:
фартлек
(fartlek)
— training technique in which periods of intense effort alternative with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout
Serbo-Croatian:
fartlek
— training technique in which periods of intense effort alternative with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout
Swedish:
fartlek
— training technique in which periods of intense effort alternative with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout