German

Alternative forms

• Hospital (literary; dated)

Noun

Spital n ‎(genitive Spitals, plural Spitäler)

1. (regional or dated) hospital

Usage notes

• The word remains predominant (vis-à-vis Krankenhaus) in Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, and South Tyrol. Both words are common in many parts of southern Germany. In northern and central Germany, Spital is dated and now used almost exclusively by some of the older generation.

Declension

Synonyms

• Krankenhaus (overall more common)

English

Alternative forms

• spittle

Noun

spital ‎(plural spitals)

1. A charitable house to receive and care for sick people, later distinguished from a hospital as being especially for those of a low class or meagre financial means.
   • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, II.1.3:

     Put up a supplication to him in the name of a thousand orphans, an hospital, a spital, a prison, as he goes by, they cry out to him for aid, ride on, surdo narras, he cares not […].

Romanian

Etymology

German Spital

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [spiˈtal]

Noun

spital n ‎(plural spitale or spitaluri)

1. hospital

Declension

Synonyms

• bolniță
• ospital