in spe

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in (“in”, used with the ablative) spē, ablative singular of spēs (“hope”). The phrase, then, literally translates as "in [the] hope; hopeful".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn ˈspɛ/, [ɪn ˈspæ]

Adjective

in spe

1. (postpositive) future, prospective, would-be, to-be

   Min søster læser medicin - hun er læge in spe.

   My sister studies medicine - she is a doctor-to-be.

Dutch

Etymology

From Latin in (“in”, used with the ablative) spē, ablative singular of spēs (“hope”). The phrase, then, literally translates as "in [the] hope; hopeful".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn ˈspeː/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eː

Phrase

in spe

1. prospective, hopeful, upcoming

   De technische universiteit zat vol ingenieurs in spe.

   The technical university was full of prospective engineers.

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in spē (literally “in [the] hope; hopeful”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn ˈspeː/, /ɪn ˈʃpeː/

• Audio:

  (file)

Phrase

in spe

1. (postpositive) prospective, upcoming

   Synonyms: angehend, baldig, zukünftig

   • 1992, “Mein zukünftiger Ex-Freund”, in Sei À Gogo, performed by Die Lassie Singers:

     Ich bin mir ganz sicher, aber du weißt es nicht / Ich weiß es insgeheim / Mein zukünftiger Ex-Freund / Mein Ex-Freund in spe das wirst du sein

     I'm quite sure, but you don't know / I know it secretly / My future ex-boyfriend / My upcoming ex-boyfriend that will be you

Further reading

• “in spe” in Duden online

Polish

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin in spē.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /inˈspɛ/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛ
• Syllabification: in spe

Adjective

in spe (not comparable, no derived adverb)

1. (literary, postpositive) prospective, upcoming (anticipated in the near or far future)

   Synonym: przyszły

   minister in spe ― upcoming minister

Further reading

• in spe in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• in spe in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Swedish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in (“in”, used with the ablative) spē, ablative singular of spēs (“hope”). The phrase, then, literally translates as "in [the] hope; hopeful".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn ˈspɛ/, [ɪn ˈspæ]

Adverb

in spe (not comparable)

1. future, prospective, would-be

   Min brorson är forskare in spe, även om han ännu inte har avslutat sin doktorandutbildning.

   My nephew is a researcher-in-the-making, even though he has not yet completed his doctoral studies.

Further reading

• in spe in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• in spe in Svensk ordbok (SO)