Proto-Indo-European

*sper-

‘to scatter, strew’

Every word has its own definition in its root. These English words share one: Proto-Indo-European *sper-.

31 English words in this record descend from Proto-Indo-European *sper-, most familiar first.

• spare ← sparen ← sparian ← *sparōną
• spiral ← spirale ← spiralis ← spīra ← σπεῖρα
• sperm ← sperme ← sperma ← σπέρμα ← *spérmə
• diaspora ← διασπορᾱ́ ← διασπείρω ← σπείρω ← *spéřřō
• sparkle ← sparkel ← sparke ← spearca ← *sparkō
• sprout ← sprouten ← sprūtan ← *spreutan ← *spreutaną
• spore ← spora ← σπορά
• spurious ← spurius
• spiro ← spīra ← σπεῖρα ← *sper-yeh₂-
• spermatic ← spermatik ← spermaticus ← σπερματικός ← σπέρμα
• esparto ← spartum ← σπάρτον ← *spr̥-to
• spirea ← σπεῖρα ← *sper-yeh₂-

More words from *sper-

• diaspore
• sprent
• spirillum
• aspermous
• conspurcate
• conspurcation
• podosperm
• rhodosperm
• spuria
• sportula
• spirula
• spermule
• spermatize
• spiricle
• sportule
• sparterie
• spireme
• spurcity
• trophosperm

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *sper-