spanspek: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Regional)Informal, Regional (South Africa)
Quick answer
What does “spanspek” mean?
A type of melon with a pale orange, sweet flesh and a rough, green-speckled or netted rind.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of melon with a pale orange, sweet flesh and a rough, green-speckled or netted rind; specifically a cantaloupe.
In South African English, the specific local name for a cantaloupe melon. It can occasionally be used informally to refer to things that are orange or sweet in nature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is not used in standard British or American English. In the UK, the fruit is called a 'cantaloupe'. In the US, it is also 'cantaloupe' or sometimes simply 'melon'.
Connotations
In South Africa, it is a neutral, everyday term for the fruit. In other varieties, the term is unknown and would cause confusion.
Frequency
Frequency is effectively zero in British and American corpora. It is a common term in South African English.
Grammar
How to Use “spanspek” in a Sentence
[verb] a spanspek (e.g., eat, cut, buy)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spanspek” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the context of South African fruit farming, export, or grocery retail.
Academic
Rare; might appear in studies of South African lexis or horticulture.
Everyday
Common in South African domestic and market contexts for referring to the fruit.
Technical
Used in South African botany or agriculture to specify the cultivar.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spanspek”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spanspek”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spanspek”
- Using 'spanspek' outside a South African context will not be understood. Misspelling as 'spanspeck' or 'spanspak'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the South African English word for a cantaloupe melon.
No, it is not a standard term in those varieties. Use 'cantaloupe' instead.
It is from Afrikaans, meaning 'Spanish bacon', a folk etymology referencing the orange colour of the melon resembling cured bacon fat.
Botanically, it is a fruit (a type of pepo), but it is culinarily used in both sweet and savoury dishes.
A type of melon with a pale orange, sweet flesh and a rough, green-speckled or netted rind.
Spanspek is usually informal, regional (south africa) in register.
Spanspek: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspænspɛk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspænspɛk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Asleep at the spanspek (SAfE informal, rare): To be daydreaming or not paying attention.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a Spanish (Spa*n*) person speaking (*spek*) about a delicious orange melon.
Conceptual Metaphor
SWEETNESS IS PLEASURE (e.g., 'a spanspek of a deal' - a very good deal, though this is highly creative/extended).
Practice
Quiz
Where is the word 'spanspek' commonly used and understood?