spook
word
/ˈspuk/
spook
/spˈuːk/
spook
Definition
A 'spook' can mean a ghost or something that frightens people. It also informally refers to a spy.
Usage & Nuances
As a noun, 'spook' is informal for 'ghost' and also used in spy contexts ('CIA spooks'). As a verb, it means to scare or startle. Not common in formal writing. Note: in older slang, 'spook' is a racial slur; avoid outside the meanings listed here.
Spanish: fantasma - asustar (verbo) - espía (coloquial)Portuguese (BR): fantasma - assustar (verbo) - espião (informal)Portuguese (PT): fantasma - assustar (verbo) - espião (informal)Chinese (Simplified): 幽灵 - 吓到 (使害怕) - 间谍 (口语)Chinese (Traditional): 幽靈 - 嚇到 (使害怕) - 間諜 (口語)Hindi: भूत - डराना (क्रिया) - जासूस (अनौपचारिक)Arabic: شبح - يخيف (فعل) - جاسوس (عامية)Bengali: ভূত - গোয়েন্দা (গোপনচর) - ভয় দেখানো (ক্রিয়া)Russian: призрак - шпион - пугать (глагол)Japanese: 幽霊 - スパイ - 驚かす (動詞)Vietnamese: ma - điệp viên - làm hoảng sợ (động từ)Korean: 유령 - 스파이 - 놀라게 하다 (동사)Turkish: hortlak - casus - ürkütmek (fiil)Urdu: بھوت - جاسوس - ڈرا دینا (فعل)Indonesian: hantu - mata-mata - menakuti (kata kerja)
Example Sentences
The horse was spooked by a loud noise.
basic
That abandoned house always gives me the spooks at night.
natural
Sorry, I didn’t mean to spook you—I just walked in quietly.
natural
A spook scared the children in the old house.
basic
Don’t let scary movies spook you.
basic
He works as a spook for the government, but nobody really knows what he does.
natural