Spare
Definition
Spare can refer to extra, additional, or being lean or thin. It can also refer to the act of giving, saving, or being frugal.
Parts of Speech
- Adjective
- Verb
- Noun
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /spɛər/
- Respelling: SPAIR (with "SPAIR" rhyming with "air" and "care")
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /spɛə/
- Respelling: SPAIR (similar to American English, with "SPAIR" rhyming with "air" and "care")
In both dialects, "spare" is pronounced with a vowel sound that blends "a" and "e," as in "air" or "care." The pronunciation of "spare" is consistent between American and British English, clearly reflecting the word's simple and direct phonetic structure.
Etymology
The word "spare" comes from Old English sparian "to refrain from harming, to allow to go free," from the Proto-Germanic sparōną “to spare”. It's related to Old Norse spare, Old High German sparon "to spare".
Derivatives
- Sparingly
- Spareness
- Spares
Synonyms
Adjective
- Extra
- Additional
Verb
- Conserve
- Save
Noun
- Backup
- Reserve
Antonyms
Adjective
- Main
- Essential
Verb
- Waste
- Squander
Noun
- Lack
- Deficiency
Usage
- Adjective: Referring to extra or surplus items: "We have spare keys in case we lose the main ones."
- Verb: Referring to giving or saving: "Could you spare some change?"
- Noun: Indicating a reserve or backup: "Keep a spare of batteries in case the remote dies."
Related Terms
- Sparingly
- Spare part
- To spare
Detailed Definition
Adjective
- Extra: Being over or additional.
- Example: "They keep a spare tire in the trunk for emergencies."
- Lean or Thin: Not fleshy or fat; lean.
- Example: "He has a spare build but is very strong."
Verb
- To Give: To give or part with willingly.
- Example: "Can you spare some time to help me with this?"
Noun
- An Extra Item: An extra item, especially a part for a machine or vehicle.
- Example: "Always have a spare in case of a breakdown."
spare
She had a spare tire in her trunk.
He packed a spare shirt for the trip.
Can you spare some time for a friend?
🇨🇳 Mandarin (Simplified Chinese)
- 备用 (bèiyòng) [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /peɪ˧˥ jʊŋ˥˩/
- Respelling in English: bay-YONG
- 饶恕 (ráoshù) [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /raʊ˧˥ ʂu˨˩˦/
- Respelling in English: rao-SHOO
🇮🇳 Hindi
- अतिरिक्त (atirikta) [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /əˈt̪irikt̪ə/
- Respelling in English: a-tee-RIK-ta
- बचाना (bacānā) [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /bəˈʧaː.naː/
- Respelling in English: buh-CHA-na
🇪🇸 Spanish
- de repuesto [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /de reˈpwes.to/
- Respelling in English: deh re-PWES-to
- perdonar [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /perˈðo.nar/
- Respelling in English: per-DOH-nar
🇫🇷 French
- de rechange [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /də ʁə.ʃɑ̃ʒ/
- Respelling in English: duh reh-SHANZH
- épargner [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /e.paʁ.ɲe/
- Respelling in English: ay-PAR-nyay
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- إضافي (iḍāfī) [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʔiːˈdaː.fiː/
- Respelling in English: ee-DA-fee
- عفو (‘afw) [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʕafuː/
- Respelling in English: AF-woo
🇧🇩 Bengali
- অতিরিক্ত (atirikta) [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /otirikt̪o/
- Respelling in English: o-tee-RIK-to
- ক্ষমা করা (kṣamā karā) [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /kʃoma koro/
- Respelling in English: KSHO-ma KO-ra
🇷🇺 Russian
- запасной (zapasnoy) [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /zəˈpas.nəj/
- Respelling in English: za-PAS-noy
- щадить (shchadit') [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʂːɐˈdʲitʲ/
- Respelling in English: SHCHA-deet
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- sobressalente [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /sobɾɨsɐˈlẽtɨ/
- Respelling in English: so-bre-sa-LEN-te
- poupar [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /powˈpaɾ/
- Respelling in English: POW-par
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- cadangan [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʧaˈdaŋan/
- Respelling in English: CHA-dang-an
- mengampuni [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /məŋˈampuni/
- Respelling in English: meng-AM-poo-nee
🇩🇪 German
- Ersatz- [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈɛɐ̯zats/
- Respelling in English: AIR-zats
- verschonen [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /fɛɐ̯ˈʃoːnən/
- Respelling in English: fer-SHOH-nen
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 予備 (yobi) [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /jobi/
- Respelling in English: YO-bee
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- dự phòng [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /zɨ˧˥ phoŋ˧˥/
- Respelling in English: ZUH fong
🇰🇷 Korean
- 예비 (yebi) [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /jebi/
- Respelling in English: YEH-bee
🇹🇷 Turkish
- yedek [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /jeˈdek/
- Respelling in English: yeh-DEK
- bağışlamak [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /baːɯʃlaˈmak/
- Respelling in English: BAH-ish-la-mak
🇵🇰 Urdu
- ذخیرہ (zakhīra) [extra or additional]
- IPA Pronunciation: /zəˈxiː.raː/
- Respelling in English: za-KHEE-ra
- معاف کرنا (ma'āf karnā) [to refrain from harming]
- IPA Pronunciation: /mʊˈɑːf kərˈnɑː/
- Respelling in English: moo-AF kar-NA
