bonspiel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low Frequency (C2+)Specialist / Sports / Formal (within context)
Quick answer
What does “bonspiel” mean?
A curling tournament or competition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A curling tournament or competition.
A major curling competition, often held annually or seasonally, typically featuring multiple teams and occurring over several days. The term can also be applied, though more rarely, to other sports tournaments in historical or regional contexts, reflecting its Scottish origin.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is known primarily in Scotland and, by extension, to curling enthusiasts in the UK. In North America, it is used almost exclusively in Canada due to the sport's popularity there, particularly in provinces like Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba. It is virtually unknown to the general public in the United States.
Connotations
Neutral within its domain; it simply denotes a tournament. May carry connotations of tradition, Scottish heritage, and community event.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language but high frequency within curling-specific contexts and media in Canada and Scotland.
Grammar
How to Use “bonspiel” in a Sentence
to enter/participate in a bonspielto host/organise a bonspielto win a bonspielthe [Adjective] bonspiel [Verb]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bonspiel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The club hopes to bonspiel every winter.
American English
- Teams from across the province will bonspiel in March.
adverb
British English
- No common adverbial use.
American English
- No common adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- The bonspiel committee met to finalise the draw.
- He's a well-known bonspiel organiser.
American English
- The bonspiel schedule was posted online.
- We need more bonspiel volunteers.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Relevant only to sports marketing, event management, or sponsorship related to curling.
Academic
Potentially appears in historical or sports studies texts discussing Scottish/Canadian culture.
Everyday
Virtually unused except by curling participants and fans.
Technical
Standard term in the lexicon of curling.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bonspiel”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bonspiel”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bonspiel”
- Spelling: 'bonspeel', 'bonnspiel'.
- Pronunciation: placing stress on the second syllable.
- Using it generically for any tournament.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never in modern usage. It is a term specific to curling, though historically it may have referred to other games.
Primarily in Canada and Scotland, the two major strongholds of curling as a popular sport.
Yes, 'curling tournament' is a perfectly understandable and more general synonym. 'Bonspiel' is the specific, traditional term.
It comes from Scots, likely from Middle Dutch 'bon' (bond, league) + 'spel' (play, game).
A curling tournament or competition.
Bonspiel is usually specialist / sports / formal (within context) in register.
Bonspiel: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒnspiːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːnspiːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "BONd over the curling stone's path leads to a SPIEL (a long talk or game) = a BONSPIEL."
Conceptual Metaphor
TOURNAMENT AS A GATHERING / FESTIVAL.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'bonspiel' most specifically?