spell
gb/spˈɛl/ us/spˈɛl/
A2
English
~ 7000
betűz, helyesen ír, jelent, időszak, tartózkodás, varázslat, varázsige, töltött idő, váltás, levált, felvált
VERB
A2
1
betűz
B1
helyesen ír
B1
Usage pattern:
to spell [a word or name]
How do you spell your last name?
Le tudná betűzni a vezetéknevét?
I can never remember how to spell "necessary."
Sosem emlékszem, hogyan kell írni a „necessary” szót.
Could you spell that word for me, please?
She slowly spelled the word so the child could write it down.
My email address is easy to spell and easy to remember.
Learner examples
Can you spell your first name?
Le tudod betűzni a keresztnevedet?
He does not know how to spell this word.
Nem tudja, hogyan kell írni ezt a szót.
Please spell it slowly for me.
The teacher asked the boy to spell "family."
I always spell this word wrong.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes ask, *"How do you write it?"* when they mean *"How do you spell it?"* in the sense of giving each letter. Some learners also confuse **spell** with **spill**, and are unsure about the past forms **spelled** and **spelt** (both are used, but **spelled** is more common in American English).
Meaning
write or say letters of a word
Collocations
spell a word
|spell your name
|spell it correctly
|spell it wrong
Synonyms
write (More general; refers to putting words on paper or screen, not specifically to giving each letter of a word.)
Antonyms
misspell (Means to spell a word incorrectly, which is the opposite of spelling it correctly.)
Themes
language
|education
|daily life
|communication
Definition
To say or write all the letters in a word in the right order.
To write or say the letters of a word in the correct order.
VERB
B2
2
jelent
A2
Usage pattern:
to spell [result] (for [someone/something])
Rising interest rates could spell trouble for small businesses.
Az emelkedő kamatok gondot jelenthetnek a kisvállalkozások számára.
A major data breach would spell disaster for the company’s reputation.
Egy súlyos adatszivárgás katasztrófát jelentene a vállalat hírneve szempontjából.
For many families, another rent increase would spell financial ruin.
The latest defeat may spell the end of his political career.
If we lose this contract, it will almost certainly spell layoffs for the team.
Learner examples
Heavy rain could spell problems for the event.
A heves eső gondot okozhat a rendezvényen.
This decision may spell the end of the project.
Ez a döntés a projekt végét jelentheti.
Another mistake will spell trouble for you.
A long strike would spell big losses for the company.
A bad review can spell failure for a new restaurant.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to say *"This will spell a problem"* instead of more natural phrases like *"spell trouble"*, *"spell disaster"*, *"spell the end of"*, or *"spell problems"*. Also, this use of **spell** is mainly for serious or important results, not for small everyday things.
Meaning
mean or cause a result
Collocations
spell trouble
|spell disaster
|spell the end of
|could spell ruin
Synonyms
mean (Very close in meaning here, but more general and less dramatic; **spell** often sounds stronger or more serious, especially for bad results.)
Antonyms
prevent (To stop a bad result from happening, which is the opposite of causing or bringing it about.)
Themes
risk
|business
|news
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To mean or cause a certain result, usually a bad one.
To mean, indicate, or cause a particular result, often something negative or serious.
NOUN
B2
3
időszak
A2
tartózkodás
B2
Usage pattern:
a spell of [weather/activity/condition]
We had a long cold spell last winter.
Tavaly télen hosszú hideg időszak volt.
After a brief spell in hospital, she returned home.
Egy rövid kórházi tartózkodás után hazatért.
He went through a spell of unemployment before finding this job.
The region is experiencing a dry spell with almost no rain.
After a spell in Paris, he moved back to his hometown.
Learner examples
We had a short spell of warm weather.
Rövid meleg időszakunk volt.
He had a spell in hospital after the accident.
A baleset után egy ideig kórházban volt.
She is going through a spell of bad luck.
The team had a winning spell last year.
There was a dry spell and the grass turned brown.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse **a spell** with **a moment**. A **spell** usually lasts longer than a quick moment and often suggests a more continuous situation (for example, *a spell of rain* can last hours or days).
Meaning
short period with a condition
Collocations
a cold spell
|a dry spell
|a brief spell
|a spell of unemployment
|a spell in hospital
Synonyms
period (More general; **spell** suggests a fairly short, often noticeable or separate period.)
Antonyms
permanence (Suggests something lasting without ending, which contrasts with a limited short spell.)
Themes
weather
|time
|work
Definition
A short time when something, like weather or a situation, stays the same.
A short period of time, usually when a particular type of weather, activity, or situation continues.
NOUN
B1
4
Usage pattern:
a spell (on/over [someone/something])
The witch cast a spell on the prince.
A boszorkány varázslatot szórt a hercegre.
The village believed a powerful spell protected the forest.
A falu lakói úgy hitték, hogy egy erős varázslat védi az erdőt.
The magician’s spell turned the frog into a prince.
The hero broke the spell and saved the kingdom.
She felt as if she were under some kind of spell.
Learner examples
The witch put a spell on the boy.
A boszorkány varázslatot szórt a fiúra.
The king was under a magic spell.
A király varázslat hatása alatt állt.
The hero broke the spell in the end.
The wizard used a spell to open the door.
In the story, a spell makes her sleep for 100 years.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix **spell** and **curse**. A **spell** can be good or bad magic, while a **curse** is usually magic that brings harm or bad luck.
Meaning
magic words or effect
Collocations
cast a spell
|under a spell
|magic spell
|love spell
|break the spell
Synonyms
charm (Can also refer to a magic word or object; often sounds a bit softer or more positive than **spell**.)
Antonyms
disenchantment (The loss or ending of magical influence, which is the opposite of being affected by a spell.)
Themes
fantasy
|stories
|beliefs
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Special words or actions that people believe can use magic to change people or things.
A series of words or actions believed to have magical power to control or influence people, things, or events.
NOUN
B2
5
töltött idő
B1
váltás
B1
Usage pattern:
a spell at [an activity/place]
After a long spell at the wheel, she needed a break.
A volánnál töltött hosszú idő után szüksége volt egy kis szünetre.
He had a short spell in goal before moving to midfield.
Egy rövid ideig a kapuban védett, mielőtt a középpályára került.
I did a spell at the front desk while the receptionist was at lunch.
After a spell working nights, he switched back to day shifts.
She had a brief spell behind the bar during the busy period.
Learner examples
After a long spell at the computer, my eyes hurt.
A számítógép előtt töltött hosszú idő után fájt a szemem.
He did a short spell in the shop while his boss was away.
Rövid ideig dolgozott a boltban, amíg a főnöke távol volt.
I had a spell at the wheel and then my friend drove.
She had a spell working in a bank before she became a teacher.
He enjoyed his spell on the team last year.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that this **spell** is often used for shared or repeated work or roles (one person's spell, then another's). For just "time working" in general, **period** or **time** is more common.
Meaning
short turn of work or activity
Collocations
a driving spell
|a spell at the wheel
|a spell at the computer
|a brief spell in goal
Synonyms
stint (Also means a period of work; **stint** can sound slightly more formal or official.)
Antonyms
rest (A time when you do not work, which contrasts with a spell of working.)
Themes
work
|sports
|daily life
|time
Definition
A short time when you do a job or activity, especially when you then let another person take a turn.
A short period of time spent doing a particular job or activity, especially as one turn in work that is shared with other people.
VERB
C1
6
Usage pattern:
to spell [someone] (at/in [a task])
Can you spell me at the wheel for a while?
Le tudnál váltani egy kis időre a volánnál?
She spelled him at the reception desk during the lunch rush.
Az ebédidős roham alatt leváltotta őt a recepción.
The substitute keeper will spell the main goalie during the easier games.
Learner examples
Can you spell me at the desk for ten minutes?
Le tudnál váltani tíz percre az asztalnál?
He spelled his friend at the wheel so she could rest.
Leváltotta a barátnőjét a volánnál, hogy pihenhessen.
I will spell you in goal for the second half.
She spelled her coworker at the counter during the busy time.
Common mistake:
Many learners do not know this meaning at all and only understand **spell** as about letters or magic. Also, this use is mainly in Australian and New Zealand English; in other varieties, **cover** or **relieve** is more common.
Meaning
take someone’s place briefly at work
Collocations
spell me at the wheel
|spell her at the desk
|spell him in goal
Synonyms
relieve (Used in a similar way in work contexts ("relieve someone at the wheel"), but more general and more common globally; **spell** in this sense is especially common in Australian and New Zealand English.)
Antonyms
cover continuously (To keep working without giving anyone a break, which is the opposite of spelling someone so they can rest.)
Themes
work
|daily life
|daily_life
Definition
To take another person’s place in some work for a short time so that the person can stop and rest.
To do someone else’s job or activity for a short time so that they can rest or do something else.
Grammar
Dictionary form
spell
IPA
GB/spˈɛl/
US/spˈɛl/
Syllables & stress
spell (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (spell)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: spell
- Plural: spells
Verb
- Base: spell
- 3rd Person Singular: spells
- Present Participle: spelling
- Past: spelled, spelt
- Past Participle: spelt
Word family
Forms
spells
noun
spelling
verb
spelled
verb
spelt
verb
Related words
speller
noun
Negative and opposite forms
misspell
verb
misspelling
noun
Highlights
- Irregular past participle: spelt Verb
Expressions
a cold spell
1/ə kˈoʊld spˈɛl/
fixed phrase
short period of cold weather
A short time when the weather is colder than usual.
Examples
- We had a cold spell in early spring.
- Another cold spell is expected later this month.
a dry spell
1/ə dɹˈaɪ spˈɛl/
fixed phrase
short period with little or no activity
A short time with very little of something you want or expect, for example no rain, no success, or no good results.
Examples
- The farmers are worried about the long dry spell.
- The team is going through a dry spell and hasn’t won in weeks.
be under someone's spell
1/bˈi ˈʌndɚ sˈʌmwˌʌnz spˈɛl/
idiom
be strongly influenced or fascinated
To be so interested in or attracted to someone or something that you do not think clearly or cannot easily say no.
Examples
- He seemed to be under her spell and did everything she asked.
- The audience was under the spell of the singer’s voice.
break the spell
1/bɹˈeɪk ðə spˈɛl/
idiom
end a magic or strong influence
To stop a magic effect or to end a strong, almost magical feeling or influence.
Examples
- True love’s kiss finally broke the spell.
- The loud noise broke the spell, and everyone started talking again.
cast a spell on
1/kˈæst ə spˈɛl ˈɔn/
idiom
use magic on someone or something
To use magic to control or change someone or something; often also used to mean to strongly attract or fascinate someone.
Examples
- The witch cast a spell on the prince and turned him into a frog.
- The beautiful music cast a spell on the audience.
spell disaster
1/spˈɛl dɪzˈæstɚ/
fixed phrase
mean a very bad result
To mean or cause a very bad result or situation.
Examples
- Ignoring these warnings could spell disaster.
- A mistake in this report might spell disaster for the project.
spell out
1/spˈɛl ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
explain clearly in full detail
To explain something very clearly, giving all the details so there is no doubt.
Examples
- The manager spelled out the new rules to the team.
- Could you spell out your surname, please?
- Let me spell it out for you so there is no confusion.
- He slowly spelled out the email address over the phone.
- The contract carefully spells out the responsibilities of each side.
spell the end of
1/spˈɛl ðə ˈɛnd əv/
fixed phrase
cause something to end
To cause something to finish or stop existing.
Examples
- The new law may spell the end of small local shops.
- This defeat could spell the end of his career.
spell trouble
1/spˈɛl tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
mean serious problems
To mean or cause serious problems.
Examples
- Falling sales could spell trouble for the company.
- The dark clouds spell trouble for our picnic plans.
spell trouble
2/spˈɛl tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
Indicate future problems
To show that something bad is likely to happen.
Examples
- Dark clouds spell trouble for our picnic.
- The new policy could spell trouble for small businesses.