spiel

1 of 3

verb

ˈspēl 

ˈshpēl

spieled; spieling; spiels

intransitive verb

1

: to play music

2

: to talk volubly or extravagantly

transitive verb

: to utter, express, or describe volubly or extravagantly

spieler

ˈspē-lər 

ˈshpē-

noun

spiel

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a voluble line of often extravagant talk : pitch

spieler

3 of 3

noun (2)

spiel·​er ˈspēlə(r) 

plural -s

1

chiefly Australia

a

: a person who earns a living by dishonest gambling : cardsharper

b

: sharper, swindler

2

a

: a person who attracts customers (as to a sideshow) by a voluble line of extravagant claims and skillful persuasion : barker

b

: one that spiels : the giver of a spiel

specifically : a person with a voluble often exaggerated line of talk

c

: barker sense b

d

: a radio announcer (as for a commercial)

Did you know?

Here’s our spiel on spiel: it’s well-known as a noun, and you may also be aware that spiel can be used as a verb meaning “to talk extravagantly,” but did you know that the verb can also mean “to play music”? That, in fact, is the word’s original meaning, and one it shares with its German root, spielen. Spiel is also found in glockenspiel, the name of a musical instrument similar to the xylophone.

Examples of spiel in a Sentence

Noun (1)

I listened to the salesman's spiel but still refused to buy anything.

He gave me a long spiel about the benefits of joining the club.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Paco whipped out his smartphone, logged on to Instagram Live, and began to spiel. — Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2021

Just landed: Travel news Have podcast, will virtually travel: A good travel podcast acts as an aural postcard, spieling out details about a destination for an audience that’s not jetting off—yet. — Susan Seubert, National Geographic, 13 May 2020

Noun

In other words, there’s a lot of populist appeal in Platner’s spiel that works well in a time of discontent with elites. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026

The commercials, featuring the company’s young CEO, Margo Case (Kathryn Newton), fuse Big Pharma come-on with a vague feminist spiel, and Carol rolls her eyes at all the feel-good whatever. — Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

German spielen to play, from Old High German spilōn; akin to Old English spilian to revel

Noun (2)

German, player, gambler, from Old High German spilāri professional entertainer, from spil play + -āri -er

First Known Use

Verb

1870, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spiel

• beal
• chiel
• ciel
• creel
• deal
• diel
• eel
• feel
• feil
• heal
• heel
• keel

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Kids Definition

spiel

1 of 2 verb

ˈspē(ə)l 

: to talk in a fast, smooth, and usually colorful manner

spieler

ˈspē-lər 

noun

spiel

2 of 2 noun

: fast smooth usually colorful talk often intended to sell something