special

See also spécial

English

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin specialis (from species, speciei). Used in English since the 13th century.

Pronunciation

• enPR: spĕʹshəl, IPA: /ˈspɛ.ʃəl/, SAMPA: /"spE.S@l/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛʃəl

Adjective

special (comparative more special, superlative most special)

1. Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.

   a special episode of a television series

2. Of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored.

   Everyone is special to someone.

3. (euphemistic) Retarded; mentally handicapped

   He goes to a special school.

4. Constituting or relating to a species.

   The seven dark spots is a special property unique to Coccinella septempunctata.

Derived terms

Terms derived from special

special attack special constable special defense special delivery special education / special ed

special forces specialisation / specialization specialise / specialize specialist speciality, specialty

specially Special Olympics special ops

Related terms

Terms etymologically related to special

especial

especially

Translations

distinguished by a unique or unusual quality

Arabic: خاص (ar) (khaaSS) Armenian: հատուկ (hy) (hatuk) Chinese: Mandarin: 特別的 (zh), 特别的 (zh) (tèbié de), 專門的 (zh), 专门的 (zh) (zhuānmén de) Czech: zvláštní (cs), speciální (cs) Dutch: speciaal (nl) Esperanto: speciala (eo) Estonian: eri- (et) Finnish: erikoinen (fi), omalaatuinen (fi), erikois- (fi) French: spécial (fr) German: speziell, Spezial-, ungewöhnlich, Sonder-, besondere (de) Hindi: ख़ास (hi) (xās), विशेष (hi) (viśeṣ) Hungarian: különleges (hu), speciális (hu) Ido: specala (io) Irish: speisialta (ga) Italian: speciale (it) Japanese: 特別な (ja) (とくべつな, tokubetsu-na)

Korean: 특별한 (ko) (teukbyeor-han) Latgalian: sovins Latvian: īpašs (lv) Lithuanian: ypatingas (lt), nepaprastas (lt) Navajo: spéshelígíí Norwegian: spesiell (no) Persian: ویژه (fa) (viža), خاص (fa) (xâs) Polish: specjalny (pl) m., wyjątkowy (pl) m. Portuguese: especial (pt) Russian: особый (ru) (osóbyj) m., особенный (ru) (osóbennyj) m., специальный (ru) (speciál’nyj) m. Scottish Gaelic: sònraichte (gd), àraidh (gd), air leth (gd) Spanish: especial (es) Swedish: speciell (sv) Urdu: خاص (ur) (xās) Welsh: arbennig (cy)

of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored

Armenian: հատուկ (hy) (hatuk) Czech: jedinečný (cs) Dutch: speciaal (nl) Esperanto: speciala (eo) Estonian: eriline (et) Finnish: pidetty (fi), erityinen (fi), tietty (fi) French: particulier (fr) German: speziell, Spezial-, Sonder-, bestimmt, Lieblings- (de) Ido: specala (io)

Italian: speciale (it) Norwegian: spesiell (no) Polish: wyjątkowy m. Portuguese: especial (pt) Russian: особый (ru) (osóbyj), особенный (ru) (osóbennyj) Scottish Gaelic: sònraichte (gd), àraidh (gd) Spanish: especial (es) Swedish: speciell (sv)

(offensive slang): retarded; handicapped

Persian: استثنایی (fa) (estesnaei)

constituting or relating to a species

Czech: zvláštní (cs), druhový (cs) Finnish: lajityypillinen

Russian: видовой (ru) (vidovój)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

French proche Hebrew: מיוחד (me-yukhad) Ido: partikulara Korean: 특별한 (teukbyeolhan)

Tagalog: espesyal, natatangi, pantangias in special presentation= natatanging pagtatanghal, special advertisement= natatanging patalastas Telugu: ప్రత్యేక (pratyaeka) Turkish: özel Volapük: patik

Noun

special (plural specials)

1. A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.

   We're running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.

2. (broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series
3. (UK, colloquial) A special constable.
4. Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.

   Thousands came to the special that carried the President's coffin.

Translations

A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered

Czech: sleva (cs) Finnish: erikoistarjous

German: Sonderangebot (de)

(tv, radio) Unsual or exceptional episode of a series

Finnish: erikoisjakso, erikoislähetys

German: Sondersendung

Statistics

• Most common English words before 1923: James · Greek · island · #934: special · memory · proved · plan

Anagrams

• piacles
• plaices