Standard Lemma guide

spange

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /speɪnd͡ʒ/
  • rhymes with -eɪndʒ
  • Canada: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To beg, particularly using the phrase “spare change?”

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, intransitive

Examples

  • 1996, Tim “Salvage”, quoted in Ian Fisher, “Erin’s looking for Leg-Rub Steve. Fly’s looking for CD’s to steal. Star’s looking for Jaya. And it’s starting to get cold.” I don’t spange much because I really don’t like doing it. I eat out of trash cans a lot.
  • 2009, Kelly Myers, 33, quoted in Joe Deegan, “Nowhere To Go”, San Diego Reader Then my father would send all us kids out to ‘spange’ [beg for spare change]. You could sometimes make $50 a day by spanging. Other days you might make a dollar.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Blend of spare + change, from stereotyped phrase “spare change?”, “[can you] spare any change?”