Courage, determination, or fighting spirit; the will to persevere despite difficulty.
From Gaelic 'spong' meaning 'spark' or 'tinder.' The word evolved to mean the spark of courage or determination that ignites action.
Spunk literally means 'spark' in Gaelic, and when we talk about someone having spunk, we're imagining them as having a little spark of fire inside—it's a beautiful metaphor for courage.
Reclaimed from slur used against LGBTQ+ individuals (particularly gay men) in 1970s-80s; also has gendered connotations in reproductive discourse.
Use 'courage' or 'determination' in most contexts; be aware of potential offense if referencing LGBTQ+ contexts.
["courage","determination","vigor"]
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