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spell ~ spell ~ spill

[‘Spell’ and ‘spell’ have the same pronunciation that rhymes with “tell”, but ‘spill’ has a slightly different vowel sound that rhymes with “kill”]

“Spell” (verb ~~~  spell – spelt/spelled – spelt/spelled – spelling ) is ‘to say or write a word or words by using the letters of alphabet in proper order; (of an action or situation) to make somebody expect some trouble, damage, etc.’; {in American English} to do someone else’s work for a short time’

e.g.     “Can you spell your name again, please?”   →  → “Yes. It’s G-E-O-R-G-E.”

Heavy rains at this time of the year could spell disaster for the farmers.    [i.e. heavy rains at this time of the year indicates (brings) disaster for the farmers because the crops are ready for harvest, or something like that…]

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“Spell” (noun) is ‘some special words (magic words) or gestures or rites that have strong power to attract, influence and put somebody or something under the control of the person who said or did them; a short period of an activity, weather change, illness, etc.; the magic words said by witches, sorcerers in order to keep somebody or something under their control, or to change them into something else’ {“throw/ cast a spell” is a common expression used in this context}’,

e.g.

The wizard threw (cast) a spell on the handsome prince that changed him into a frog.

I’ve had a spell of bad luck recently; anything I try to do has gone bad.

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an oil spill

“Spill”, as a verb ~~~  spill – spilt/spilled – spilt/spilled – spilling , is ‘to make a liquid, such as milk, coffee, ink, water, etc. flow over the edge of the container it is kept in, usually suddenly and accidentally, when it is not needed or when it spoils or dirties something; to say something, usually a secret, accidentally that causes trouble to someone else’; as a noun, it is ‘the amount of liquid, usually oil, dangerous chemicals, etc. that is poured (spilled), usually accidentally; a fall from a horse, bike, etc.’,

e.g.

The little girl spilled her milk on the carpet.

Don’t cry over spilt milk.    [i.e. to advise someone not to worry about something bad because it has already been done, and there is no point or use in worrying about it now]

She spilled out the love affair she had with her manager.    [i.e. she told somebody, by accident, the secret love affair she had with her manager]

There was an enormous oil spill when the oil tanker ran against an iceberg.

He sprained his ankle when he took a spill on his bike.    [i.e. he sprained his ankle when he fell from his bike]

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