spend
/spɛnd/
spend is pronounced spend (/spɛnd/). Spend is a short, monosyllabic verb meaning to use money or time for a purpose. It typically functions in everyday financial or temporal contexts, and its pronunciation is notable for the close-mid front vowel and final /d/ stop. In most contexts it is stressed as a single syllable, with a precise, quick release characteristic of common English usage.
Spend is a short, monosyllabic verb meaning to use money or time for a purpose. It typically functions in everyday financial or temporal contexts, and its pronunciation is notable for the close-mid front vowel and final /d/ stop. In most contexts it is stressed as a single syllable, with a precise, quick release characteristic of common English usage.
- Mispronouncing the vowel as /ɪ/ or /eɪ/ in rapid speech; correct by practicing with a tight /ɛ/ as in bed, then lock the /nd/ cluster with a crisp /d/ sound. - Dropping the final /d/ in casual speech; fix with a focused /d/ release and hold the tongue at the alveolar ridge for a beat before the vowel stop. - Blurring /n/ and /d/ into a nasal-stop blend; avoid letting the /n/ take on extra nasalization—keep it a clean alveolar nasal before the /d/.
"I like to spend my weekends hiking with friends."
"She spent the budget on new equipment last quarter."
"They spent several hours waiting for the train."
Pronounce as /spɛnd/ in US/UK/AU. Start with an unaspirated /s/ followed by the short front vowel /ɛ/ (as in 'bed'), then the voiced alveolar nasal /n/ and end with the voiceless alveolar stop /d/. The tongue sits high-front for /ɛ/, with the jaw slightly lowered. The /p/ is not present; the initial consonant cluster is simple. Ensure a clean, crisp /d/ release to prevent clipping, especially in rapid speech. For example: “spend a little time.”
Common errors: misplacing the vowel as a lax /ɪ/ or /eɪ/ in fast speech, saying /spɛnt/ or /spɛn/ with a dropped final /d/, or making the /s/ too weak. Correction: hold the /s/ with a crisp hiss, use the short /ɛ/ as in ‘bed,’ then clearly articulate the /n/ and the final /d/ with a full release. Practice by isolating the final /nd/ as a single sound rather than two quick consonants; say ‘spend-d’ in stages to avoid devoicing the /d/.
In US/UK/AU, the core is /spɛnd/. Rhotic accents don’t alter the syllable onset here, but in some tighter British dialects the vowel quality can shift towards a slightly lower /æ/ or rounded quality depending on vowel harmony, though this is uncommon for received pronunciation. Australians often have a very close /ɛ/ in rapid speech and may shorten the duration slightly; the final /d/ usually remains a clear voiced alveolar stop. Overall, the key is a crisp /d/ and stable /ɛ/ regardless of accent.
The difficulty lies in the short, lax vowel /ɛ/ before a cluster ending in /nd/. Many speakers reduce or over-reduce the vowel, or slip into /spend/ with a softer or elongated /d/ depending on tempo. The challenge is maintaining a precise tongue position for /ɛ/ while transitioning rapidly into the alveolar /n/ and the final /d/ without voice blending. Focus on the front-vowel position and the crisp alveolar closure for /nd/ to avoid a muffled or nasalized end.
Spend is a one-syllable word, so it carries primary stress inherently. The challenge is ensuring the single syllable is compact and unmistakable in rapid speech, avoiding vowel reduction that might turn it into a schwa-like sound or make the /d/ sound wobbly. In connected speech, you can notice slight assimilation around neighboring sounds, but the word itself maintains a tight, stressed, single-syllable profile with a clear /ɛ/ and final /nd/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "spend"!
- US: pronounce with a strong, crisp /d/; rhoticity doesn’t affect the word, but voicing can differ slightly with surrounding vowels. /ɛ/ is pronounced with the tongue slightly lower than /eɪ/ vowels; mouth opens moderately. - UK: tends toward more open /ɛ/ in RP; keep a short, clipped vowel before the /nd/. Some speakers may have a touch of /æ/ in casual speech; aim for /ɛ/ for clarity. - AU: smooth, quick delivery; maintain /ɛ/ with a slightly higher jaw position; final /d/ is clean but not overly aspirated. IPA references: /spɛnd/ for all three. "
Spend comes from Middle English spenden, meaning to expend, waste, or pay out. The root is likely from Old English spendrian or spenden, with Proto-Germanic origins in spendan- (to spend, stretch). The word has cognates in Dutch ( besteden ), German ( spenden ), and various Scandinavian languages, all linked to the notion of distributing resources such as money, time, or goods. In English, spend broadened from “to pay out money” to general “to use up resources,” including time and effort. The semantic shift reflects a cultural emphasis on resource allocation: the act of disbursing or consuming what you have, rather than simply holding onto it. First attestations surface in Middle English texts, with the sense of “to expend or lay out money” becoming common by the 14th–15th centuries. Over centuries, spend maintained its core sense but extended metaphorically to non-monetary resources like time and energy, embedding itself in everyday idioms (spend time, spend energy, spend money) that persist in modern usage.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "spend" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "spend" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "spend" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "spend"
-end sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
