Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

spiel

/ʃpiːl/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about spiel at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A lengthy and extravagant speech or argument usually intended to persuade.
An early form of rap music.

verb

To talk at length.
To give a sales pitch; to promote by speaking.

noun

A curling tournament.

Origin

Borrowed from German Spiel (“game, performance”) or Yiddish שפּיל (shpil), both from Middle High German spil, from Old High German spil, from Proto-West Germanic *spil. Cognate with Old English spilian (“to revel, play”). See speel.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word