spiel

verb

ˈspēl How to pronounce spiel (audio)
ˈshpēl
spieled; spieling; spiels
Synonyms of spielnext

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 How to pronounce spiel (audio)
ˈshpē-
noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 George had spieled a third version of that boss blonde in the picture. James Ellroy, Vanities, 7 Oct. 2017 See All Example Sentences for spiel

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spiel was in 1870

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Spiel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiel. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

spiel

1 of 2 verb
: to talk in a fast, smooth, and usually colorful manner
spieler noun

spiel

2 of 2 noun
: fast smooth usually colorful talk often intended to sell something

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