How Do You Spell OWE?

Pronunciation: [ˈə͡ʊ] (IPA)

The word "owe" is spelled with the letters O-W-E. Its phonetic transcription is /oʊ/. The letter "O" represents its long vowel sound. The letter "W" creates a glide between the vowel sounds /o/ and /ɛ/. Finally, the letter "E" is silent and lengthens the previous vowel sound. The word "owe" means to be under an obligation to pay or return something, usually money. It is important to spell it correctly to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words, such as "oh" or "owe".

OWE Meaning and Definition

  1. Owe is a verb that typically refers to being indebted to someone or something, both in terms of money and other obligations. It means to be bound or obligated to repay a favor, kindness, or loan received from another person or entity. In financial terms, owing commonly implies being in debt, with a certain amount owed to a creditor or lender, and the responsibility to repay that debt within a specified timeframe.

    Owe can also have a broader sense, extending beyond monetary obligations. It can involve feelings of gratitude, duty, or recognition towards someone who has done something beneficial or important. In this context, owing refers to being morally or emotionally indebted to someone for their actions, support, or assistance provided to oneself or others.

    Furthermore, owe can express a sense of owing a debt to society, one's community, or even oneself. It signifies the recognition that certain actions, behaviors, or accomplishments are required to fulfill one's responsibilities, achieve personal goals, or contribute effectively to the greater whole.

    Overall, owe encompasses the concepts of indebtedness, obligation, reciprocity, and recognition. It implies a sense of owing something back, whether it be financial, emotional, moral, or societal, and acknowledges the need to fulfill or repay these obligations in an appropriate and timely manner.

  2. To be indebted to; to be obliged or bound to pay.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for OWE *

  • ow 75.609756%
  • onwe 4.8780487%
  • oe 2.4390243%
  • oue 2.4390243%
  • qwe 2.4390243%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for OWE

Etymology of OWE

The word "owe" comes from the Middle English word "ouen" which means "to possess, have, own". It can be traced back to the Old English word "agan", meaning "to possess, own, owe" and also "to have to (do something)". The Old English word is derived from the Germanic root "*aiganą", which has cognates in other Germanic languages such as Old High German "eigan" and Old Norse "eiga". The Proto-Germanic root "*aiganą" is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂eyg-", meaning "to possess, own".

Idioms with the word OWE

  • owe sth (to sm) (for sth) The idiom "owe something to someone (for something)" means to be indebted or obligated to someone for a particular action, favor, or benefit they have provided. It implies owing gratitude, recognition, repayment, or retribution for what has been done.
  • I owe you (one) The idiom "I owe you (one)" means to express gratitude or acknowledgment for a favor or kindness that someone has done for you, and implies that you intend to return the favor in the future.
  • owe sb a living The idiom "owe someone a living" refers to the idea that one person is solely responsible for providing another person with the means to sustain their life or livelihood. It suggests that the person being referred to is dependent on the support or assistance of someone else in order to survive financially.
  • owe it to oneself The idiom "owe it to oneself" means to have a moral duty or obligation to do something for one's own benefit or well-being. It implies that an individual has a responsibility or should feel compelled to undertake a particular action or make an effort in order to achieve personal growth, success, happiness, or fulfillment.
  • you owe it to yourself to do sth The idiom "you owe it to yourself to do something" means that it is in your best interest or that you deserve to do something for your own well-being, satisfaction, or personal growth. It implies that undertaking the mentioned action will contribute positively to your life and is something you shouldn't deny or disregard.
  • owe it to sb to do sth The idiom "owe it to someone to do something" means to have a moral or ethical obligation to do something for someone, usually because they have done something beneficial or helpful for you in the past. It implies a sense of gratitude and the desire to reciprocate the kindness or favor.
  • owe someone a debt of gratitude The idiom "owe someone a debt of gratitude" means to be deeply grateful and indebted to someone for something they have done or provided, as if one is obligated to repay them in some way. It emphasizes a sense of gratitude and the understanding that the person being referred to has greatly helped or supported the individual.
  • owe it to yourself The idiom "owe it to yourself" means to have a responsibility or obligation to do something beneficial for one's own well-being or personal growth. It suggests that an individual deserves or is deserving of a particular action or experience that will contribute positively to their life.
  • owe sm a debt of gratitude The idiom "owe someone a debt of gratitude" means to feel a deep and sincere appreciation towards someone for a favor, help, or kindness they have done for you. It implies that you are indebted to that person and recognize their assistance as something of great value to you.

Similar spelling words for OWE

Conjugate verb Owe

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have owed
you would have owed
he/she/it would have owed
we would have owed
they would have owed
I would have owe
you would have owe
he/she/it would have owe
we would have owe
they would have owe

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been owing
you would have been owing
he/she/it would have been owing
we would have been owing
they would have been owing

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would owe
you would owe
he/she/it would owe
we would owe
they would owe

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be owing
you would be owing
he/she/it would be owing
we would be owing
they would be owing

FUTURE

I will owe
you will owe
he/she/it will owe
we will owe
they will owe

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be owing
you will be owing
he/she/it will be owing
we will be owing
they will be owing

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have owed
you will have owed
he/she/it will have owed
we will have owed
they will have owed

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been owing
you will have been owing
he/she/it will have been owing
we will have been owing
they will have been owing

IMPERATIVE

you owe
we let´s owe

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to owe

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was owing
you were owing
he/she/it was owing
we were owing
they were owing

PAST PARTICIPLE

owed

PAST PERFECT

I had owed
you had owed
he/she/it had owed
we had owed
they had owed

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been owing
you had been owing
he/she/it had been owing
we had been owing
they had been owing

PRESENT

I owe
you owe
he/she/it owes
we owe
they owe

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am owing
you are owing
he/she/it is owing
we are owing
they are owing

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

owing

PRESENT PERFECT

I have owed
you have owed
he/she/it has owed
we have owed
they have owed

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been owing
you have been owing
he/she/it has been owing
we have been owing
they have been owing

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it owe

SIMPLE PAST

I owed
you owed
he/she/it owed
we owed
they owed

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