in spe

Danish

Adjective

in spe

1. (postpositive) who might and hopes to become X

Dutch

Etymology

From Latin in (“in”, used with the ablative) + spē, ablative singular of spēs (“hope”). The phrase, then, literally translates as "in [the] hope; hopeful".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn ˈspeː/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eː

Phrase

in spe

1. Prospective, hopeful, upcoming.

   De technische universiteit zat vol ingenieurs in spe.

   The technical university was full of prospective engineers.

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in spē (literally “in [the] hope; hopeful”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn ˈspeː/, /ɪn ˈʃpeː/

• Audio:

  (file)

Phrase

in spe

1. (postpositive) prospective, upcoming

   Synonyms: baldig, zukünftig

   • 1992, “Mein zukünftiger Ex-Freund”, in Sei À Gogo, performed by Die Lassie Singers:

     Ich bin mir ganz sicher, aber du weißt es nicht / Ich weiß es insgeheim / Mein zukünftiger Ex-Freund / Mein Ex-Freund in spe das wirst du sein

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Further reading

• “in spe” in Duden online

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in spē.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /in spɛ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

in spe (not comparable, no derived adverb)

1. (literary, postpositive) prospective, upcoming

   Synonym: przyszły

Further reading

• in spe in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• in spe in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Swedish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in (“in”, used with the ablative) + spē, ablative singular of spēs (“hope”). The phrase, then, literally translates as "in [the] hope; hopeful".

Adverb

in spe (not comparable)

1. future, prospective, would-be

References

• in spe in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• in spe in Svensk ordbok (SO)