# Swell period

> The time between waves, in seconds.

**What "swell period" means in surfing:** The time between waves, in seconds. Longer periods mean more power and better-formed waves.

**Example:** "It's only 2 foot but a 16-second period, so it'll be solid."

**Also said:** Wave period, Period

**Category:** Conditions

## Related words

- [Groundswell](https://surfslang.com/groundswell): Swell made by distant storms that has travelled a long way across the ocean.
- [Windswell](https://surfslang.com/windswell): Swell made by wind close to the coast.
- [Corduroy](https://surfslang.com/corduroy): Swell lines stacked neatly to the horizon, like the ridges on corduroy fabric.

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Source: [Swell period](https://surfslang.com/swell-period) on Surfslang.com, the surf slang glossary. Full glossary: https://surfslang.com/llms.txt