'splain

or splain

[ spleyn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with or without object)

, Informal.

-splain

a combining form extracted from mansplain and meaning “to explain or comment on something in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner, from the perspective of the group one identifies with,” as in ladysplain whitesplain
racism being whitesplained to a person of color.

Discover More

Origin of 'splain¹

By shortening and alteration of explain

Discover More

"I'll 'splain ever'thing as soon as we get to your rooms," promised Dorothy.

They isnt enough words in langwitch, says he, t splain things.

And I drap in, major, ter 'splain ter you dat I'se gwine ter gently draw outen politics, yassah.

Yes, but I don't know that anybody kin 'splain your daughter allus being with Mr. Thomas, who ain't even divo'ced from his wife.

Oh, Mr. Raynor, I do hope an' pray he see fit to give you a chanc't to 'splain 'way the diffe'nces!

Browse