Aromanian

Alternative forms

• spelu, aspel, aspelu

Etymology

From a Vulgar Latin root *experlavō, from Latin perlavō. Compare Romanian spăla, spăl, and also Albanian shpëlaj.

Verb

spel ‎(third-person singular present spealã, past participle spilatã)

1. I wash.
2. (reflexive, mi-spel) I wash myself.

Related terms

• spilari/spilare
• spilat
• lau

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spɛl/

Noun

spel n ‎(plural spellen or spelen, diminutive spelletje n)

1. game
2. playing (e.g. of a musical instrument)

Usage notes

The plural form spellen is used referring to

• several repetitions of one kind of game (sets, rounds, matches)

Na enkele denkspellen gespeeld te hebben, kon hij niet meer helder nadenken. – After having played a few thinking games he could no longer think clearly.

• the physical accessories needed for particular games

Ik heb thuis drie gezelschapspellen liggen. – I have three board games at home.

The plural form spelen is used referring to

• different kinds of games

Speel je graag gezelschapspelen? – Do you like to play board games?

Hij blinkt uit in denkspelen. – He excels at thinking games.

Derived terms

• balspel
• biljartspel
• blijspel
• bordspel
• computerspel
• denkspel
• eindspel
• gelijkspel
• gezelschapspel
• kinderspel
• naspel
• treurspel
• videospel
• voorspel

• Olympische Spelen

Related terms

• spelen

Verb

spel

1. first-person singular present indicative of spellen
2. imperative of spellen

Norwegian Nynorsk

Verb

spel

1. imperative of spela and spele

Old English

Alternative forms

• spell

Noun

spel n

1. news
2. message
3. tale

Derived terms

• spelian/spellian

Swedish

Etymology 1

From Old Swedish spil, from Middle Low German spil and Old Saxon spil, from unknown origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /speːl/

Noun

spel n

1. a play, a game; a person's or animal's happy, joyous movement or entertainment; activity for amusement only; a pursuit or activity with rules performed either alone or with others, for the purpose of entertainment

   lek och spel

   fun and games

   orrarnas spel

   the courtship game of the grouse

2. the accessories used for an entertaining or amusing pursuit; such as a board game
3. an instance of gambling
4. acting; the performance of an actor in a work of drama
5. play, playing; the performance of someone who plays something, such as a musician, a sportsman or player of games
6. play, slack; the unwanted movement of a mechanical part e.g. due to not being fastened or tightened sufficiently

Declension

Related terms

Etymology 2

Old Swedish spill, from Middle Low German spille, cognate with German Spindel and English spindle. With time, the Swedish word has adopted the declension pattern of spel in Etymology 1. Note that spindel is also a Swedish word.

Noun

spel n

1. a winch

Declension

Related terms

• ankarspel
• flaggspel
• gruvspel
• spelhus
• spellina
• uppfordringsspel
• vindspel

Synonyms

• vinda
• vinsch

References

• spel in Svenska Akademiens Ordlista över svenska språket (13th ed., online)
• spel in Svenska Akademiens ordbok online.

Volapük

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spel/

Noun

spel ‎(plural spels)

1. hope

Declension

Derived terms

• nenspel
• spelabik
• spelik
• spelo
• spelön
• spelü