spoonerism
Say it: SPOO-nuh-riz-um /ˈspuːnərɪz(ə)m/ · noun
What “spoonerism” means
Accidentally swapping the starting sounds of two words.
More precisely: Swapping the first sounds of two words, usually by accident, with comic results.
Example: “He praised a 'shoving leopard' instead of a 'loving shepherd' — a classic spoonerism.”
When to use it
Use it for a funny speech slip where two words exchange their opening sounds, rather than simply being mispronounced.
Similar words
slip of the tongue, transposition
Where it comes from
Named after William Spooner, an Oxford don famous for such slips.
Quick check
Trying to say “a lack of pies”, you accidentally say “a pack of lies”. What is this speech slip?
a spoonerism or a mondegreen?
Show the answer
a spoonerism
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