Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
spoonerism
Noun
/ˈspuː.nər.ɪ.zəm/
Definition
A spoonerism is a verbal error in which a speaker unintentionally switches the initial sounds or letters of two or more words.
Examples
- Instead of saying ‘You have hissed all my mystery lectures’, he said ‘You have missed all my history lectures’.
- When she meant to say ‘It’s an old ship’, she accidentally said ‘It’s a shold ip’.
Meaning
This phenomenon often results in humorous or nonsensical phrases.
Synonyms
- Malapropism
- Misstatement
- Slip of the tongue
