Spake Meaning in English
word · lemma: speak
ˈspeɪk
SPAYK
spˈeɪk
sp-AYK
Definition
An old-fashioned or archaic past tense of 'speak', used mainly in historical or literary texts.
Usage & Nuances
Used only in very old texts (like the Bible or Shakespeare). Not used in modern English; always replace with 'spoke' in contemporary writing. Appears in formal, poetic, or dramatic contexts.
Spanish: habló (arcaico)Portuguese (BR): falou (arcaico)Portuguese (PT): falou (arcaico)Chinese (Simplified): 说了（古语）Chinese (Traditional): 說了（古語）Hindi: बोला (पुराना रूप)Arabic: تكلَّمَ (قديم)Bengali: বলিলেন - বলেছিল (পুরানো ভাষা)Russian: рек - говорил (устар.)Japanese: 語った（古語）- 話した（古風）Vietnamese: phán (xưa) - nói (cổ trang)Korean: 말하였노라 - 말하였다 (고어)Turkish: söyledi (eski dil) - dedi (klasik dil)Urdu: فرمایا - کہا (قدیم انداز)Indonesian: berkata (kuno) - bersabda (sastra)
Example Sentences
He spake the truth in the court.
basic
The prophet spake to the people.
basic
She spake softly to her child.
basic
And the king spake, declaring peace throughout the land.
natural
In those days, wise men spake with words full of meaning.
natural
The old text read, 'He spake as the gods commanded.'
natural