mende: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1neutral
Quick answer
What does “mende” mean?
to repair something that is broken or damaged.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to repair something that is broken or damaged
to improve a situation or relationship; to heal or recover from an injury or illness
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English for clothing repairs ('to mend a sock'). In American English, 'fix' is often preferred for objects, while 'mend' is used more for relationships or health.
Connotations
British: practical, hands-on repair. American: often implies emotional or situational improvement.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English corpus; in US English, 'fix' or 'repair' are more common for physical objects.
Grammar
How to Use “mende” in a Sentence
[VN] (mend something)[V] (intransitive, e.g., His leg is mending well.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mende” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He learned to mend his own bicycle.
- They're trying to mend their strained relationship.
- The tear in her dress was neatly mended.
American English
- She needed to mend fences after the argument.
- His injury is mending slowly.
- Can you mend this broken chair leg?
adjective
British English
- A mend-and-make-do attitude saw them through the shortage.
- The mend speed was remarkable.
American English
- The mend process took two weeks.
- She has a very mend-it-all personality.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for improving processes or relationships ('mend supply chain issues').
Academic
Rare in formal writing; more common in historical/sociological contexts ('mend the social fabric').
Everyday
Common for discussing repairs, health recovery, or reconciling after an argument.
Technical
Not typical; specific terms like 'repair', 'service', or 'debug' are preferred.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mende”
- Using 'mend' for complex electronic repairs (use 'fix' or 'repair').
- Incorrect: 'I will mend my computer.' (Possible but odd). Correct: 'I will fix my computer.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but leans slightly informal. In formal technical writing, 'repair' or 'restore' is often preferred.
'Mend' often implies a careful restoration of something torn or worn, especially fabric or relationships. 'Fix' is broader and more common, especially in AmE, for making something work again.
Yes, especially regarding health: 'He is mending well after the operation.'
It's an idiom meaning 'recovering from an illness or injury'.
to repair something that is broken or damaged.
Mende: in British English it is pronounced /mɛnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɛnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “mend your fences”
- “on the mend”
- “least said, soonest mended”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A MEND is a friend who helps you fix things.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONSHIPS ARE CLOTHES (to mend a friendship), HEALTH IS A STRUCTURE (on the mend).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for the verb 'mend'?