spell

épeler

Dire ou écrire une à une les lettres d’un mot dans le bon ordre.

En anglais simple : To say or write the letters of a word in the correct order.

• Can you spell your name?
• She spelled the word slowly for me.
• I always spell that street name wrong.

Expressions courantes : spell a word, spell someone’s name, spell it correctly

orthographier

Écrire les mots avec les bonnes lettres dans le bon ordre.

En anglais simple : To use the correct letters when writing words.

• He can spell well.
• I learned to spell at school.
• She writes interesting stories but sometimes spells badly.

Expressions courantes : spell correctly, spell well, spell badly

former

Pour des lettres, former un mot précis lorsqu’elles sont placées dans cet ordre.

En anglais simple : If letters do this, they form a particular word in that order.

• These letters spell my name.
• The wooden blocks spelled out a short message.
• What word do these letters spell?

Synonymes : form

Expressions courantes : spell a word, spell someone’s name

expliquer, préciser

Expliquer quelque chose clairement et en détail.

En anglais simple : To explain something clearly and in detail.

• Please spell out the rules.
• The letter spelled out exactly what we needed to do.
• Must I spell it out for you?

Comment l'utiliser : spell something out for someone (Please spell the instructions out for me.)

Synonymes : explain, clarify

Expressions courantes : spell out something, spell something out

annoncer, signifier

Annoncer que quelque chose, généralement mauvais, va se produire.

En anglais simple : To be a sign that something, usually bad, will happen.

• This could spell trouble.
• The lost contract spelled disaster for their business.
• A new owner may spell the end of the old shop.

Comment l'utiliser : spell something for someone/something (These delays could spell disaster for the company.)

Synonymes : mean, signal

Expressions courantes : spell trouble, spell disaster, spell the end

sort, sortilège

Paroles censées avoir un pouvoir magique, ou effet magique qu’elles produisent.

En anglais simple : Words believed to have magic power, or the magic effect they produce.

• The wizard cast a spell.
• A kiss broke the spell on the princess.
• Everyone in the castle was under a spell.

Comment l'utiliser : cast a spell on someone/something (The witch cast a spell on the prince.)

Synonymes : enchantment, charm

Expressions courantes : cast a spell, break a spell, under a spell

moment, période

Un laps de temps, parfois passé à se reposer ou à rester loin du travail.

En anglais simple : A period of time, sometimes spent resting or away from work.

• We sat outside for a spell.
• She took a short spell away from work.
• He stayed with us for a spell last summer.

Synonymes : period, while

Expressions courantes : a short spell, rest a spell, for a spell

période, épisode

Période pendant laquelle un temps, un sentiment ou une autre situation persiste.

En anglais simple : A period when particular weather, feelings, or other conditions continue.

• The dry spell lasted weeks.
• She felt better after a brief spell of dizziness.
• Another cold spell is expected next week.

Comment l'utiliser : a spell of something (We had a spell of unusually warm weather.)

Synonymes : period, stretch

Expressions courantes : a dry spell, a cold spell, spell of something