spake: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely LowArchaic, Poetic, Biblical
Quick answer
What does “spake” mean?
An archaic past tense form of the verb 'speak', meaning to utter words or articulate sounds.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An archaic past tense form of the verb 'speak', meaning to utter words or articulate sounds.
Used exclusively in historical, religious, or poetic contexts to denote the act of speaking.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant geographical difference; its usage is defined by register and not by dialect.
Connotations
Evokes antiquity, religious solemnity, or a bygone era.
Frequency
Equally rare and recognized in both varieties, though perhaps marginally more frequent in UK contexts due to the historical influence of the King James Bible.
Grammar
How to Use “spake” in a Sentence
Subject + spake + (to/unto + NP) + (about/of + NP)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spake” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- And the angel spake unto Mary.
- The bard spake of ancient heroes.
American English
- The preacher quoted the verse where Moses spake.
- In the poem, the sage spake words of wisdom.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical linguistics or literary analysis of early texts.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spake”
- Using 'spake' in modern conversation or writing outside of deliberate stylistic choices.
- Incorrectly forming other tenses (e.g., 'he will spake').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an obsolete form. Its only acceptable use is when directly quoting historical texts (like the Bible) or for deliberate archaic effect in creative writing.
The modern simple past tense of 'speak' is 'spoke'.
It follows an old pattern of strong verb conjugation (like 'take/took') that was regularized for 'speak' (speak/spoke/spoken). 'Spake' is the historical predecessor to 'spoke'.
Only if you are analyzing a text that uses it or discussing archaic language. Using it as your own verb form would be marked as an error.
An archaic past tense form of the verb 'speak', meaning to utter words or articulate sounds.
Spake is usually archaic, poetic, biblical in register.
Spake: in British English it is pronounced /speɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /speɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Thus spake Zarathustra”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'spake' as a 'speak' from the past, locked in time like a historical 'snake' (spake).
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEECH IS A DIVINE COMMAND (as used in biblical contexts).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'spake' be MOST appropriate?