A word or phrase created by swapping the initial letters (or first consonant sounds) of two words or syllables to get a new word word or phrase. The spelling doesn't have to be correct, only the pronounciation is important. The term "spoonerism" was named after
Reverend W.A.
Spooner (1844-1930).
Not to be confused with anagrams,
palindromes, and other word games.
- "
Peas and carrots" is a spoonerism of "keys and parrots"
- "tea bags" becomes "bee tags"
- "
trail mix" becomes "mail tricks"
- "
Save the whales" becomes "wave the sails"
- "forearm" becomes "oar farm"