2023-05-08 Fitspiration – The English We Speak

Introduction

Do you like to keep fit? Do you use anything or anyone to help you? There’s a word to describe the inspiration they give you and we can tell you what it is in this programme.

Transcript

Rob
Welcome to The English We Speak, with me Rob.

Jiaying
And me, Jiaying.

Rob
Are you a fitness fanatic? Well, this new word might be useful to you – it’s ‘fitspiration’. It’s when something or someone motivates you to get fit.

Jiaying
This sounds interesting. There’s a clue about fitness in the first part of the word – ‘fit’. What about the second part –’spiration’?

Rob
That comes from the word ‘inspiration’ which describes an enthusiasm to do something after seeing someone else do it. So, fitspiration relates to being inspired by something to get fit. It’s an example of two words combined to make one – we call that a portmanteau word. –

Jiaying
Right. So, my smart watch gives me fitspiration because it can tell me how fast I run and how many calories I’m burning?

Rob
That’s right. Anything that encourages you to improve your fitness. But I don’t use technology, I prefer a personal trainer to tell me what to do and how to do it.

Jiaying
And has it worked?

Rob
Yes. I completed a half marathon recently – so you could say I achieved it because of fitspiration.

Jiaying
Congratulations! Let’s hear some examples.

Examples
Watching the Olympics on TV has given me the fitspiration to start running again.

I’ve got a new app on my smartphone that has given me the fitspiration to eat more healthily.

I’ve found a great instructor who’s given me the fitspiration to improve my swimming technique.

Jiaying
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we are learning about the word ‘fitspiration’, which describes something or someone that motivates you to get fit.

Rob
You might see images or videos on social media that inspire you to get fit to eat healthier. These are all examples of fitspiration.

Jiaying
Remember it’s a combination of the word’s ‘fitness’ and ‘inspiration’ – but some people have shortened the word to ‘fitspo’.  

Rob
And it’s a very informal word.

Jiaying
Well, all this talk of fitness has inspired to me to go the gym. See you next time.

Rob
Don’t forget your phone – you might need it for some fitspiration.

Jiaying
Thanks. Bye.

Rob
Bye.