See also: spiel

German edit

Etymology edit

From Middle High German spil, from Old High German spil, from Proto-West Germanic *spil (dance).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ʃpiːl/
  • Rhymes: -iːl
  • (file)
  • (file)

Noun edit

Spiel n (strong, genitive Spieles or Spiels, plural Spiele, diminutive Spielchen n or (Ruhrpöttisch) Spielken n)

  1. (countable) a game (instance or way of playing)
  2. (uncountable) gameplay, the experience or act of playing
    Synonym: Spielen
    im Spielat play
  3. (uncountable, figurative) leeway; wiggle room
    Der Personaler sagte mir, beim Gehalt sei noch Spiel nach oben.
    The HR guy told me there was some leeway for a higher salary.
  4. (uncountable, mechanics) backlash; lash; play; slack
  5. (Switzerland) military band, marching band

Usage notes edit

  • German Spiel and especially its diminutive Spielchen are also used for an unstraightforward way of acting or maneuvering, as in Lass dich nicht auf seine Spielchen ein! (Don’t get involved in his little games!) The German word does not, however, have the specific sense of English spiel (lengthy, persuasive speech).

Declension edit

Hyponyms edit

Derived terms edit

compounds

Further reading edit

Hunsrik edit

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

Spiel n (plural Spiel)

  1. game, play

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

Plautdietsch edit

Noun edit

Spiel f (plural Spielen)

  1. pinfeather