PARANOMASIA: meaning and examples

The word games and double meanings, on many occasions, they define an author's command of the language. In addition, they are a sign that it is rich and that it has a multitude of forms that make it live and in constant evolution. In this lesson from a PROFESSOR we want to tell you about a figure widely used in different areas of our language. Although the word itself may seem like a complicated technicality to understand, the truth is that you have surely used it more than once. We are referring to the paronomasia, its meaning and examples so you can understand it much better.

The word paronomasia comes from the Greek and comes to mean similarity or closeness between two names. At present, the word paronomasia, in Castilian, is heir to the Greek and Latin word and serves to name the similarity or resemblance between different terms phonetic words or words that are differentiated from each other by just one phonetic feature.

That is to say, they are words that have different meanings, but due to the pronunciation they only differ from each other in some of their sounds. Although the definition may seem very convoluted, we can quickly understand it with an example. Let's look at two words:

• Mop
• Map

As you can see, both only differ in the sound of the first of their syllables, but the meaning between them is very different. Therefore, we can point out that the similarity that exists between the words or paronyms it has to do only with a question of sound since nothing has anything to resemble its shape or meaning. Therefore, paronomasia is the use of paronyms or words that sound similar.

On the other hand, it is important to make a clarification, since in many cases the paronyms are confused with the homonyms or with the homophones. The first of them are written exactly the same but have different meanings, for example, the word wine, can be a noun and a verb. On the other hand, homophones are the terms that sound the same but with different meaning, for example: cow as an animal and roof as an accessory for the car.

Uses of paronomasia

Due to the peculiarities of paronomasia, it is very common for it to be very present in puns, jokes, or riddles. It can also appear in tongue twisters or satires with humorous intent. Because the words sound very similar, it is sought to create an effect of astonishment or laughter in the person who hears it. It is therefore a resource sought by the author. Let's look at some examples of paronyms:

• Male / shoulder
• Married / Tired
• Port / Gate
• Oenology / Ethnology
• Gozo / Well
• Floor / Step
• History / Scum
• Pray / Ara
• Hurry / Laughter

Surely you can think of some more to use in this rhetorical figure so widely used in our language.

Now that you know the definition of paronomasia and some paronyms, let's see some examples of paronomasia that illustrate how this rhetorical figure that we find especially in tongue twisters, in jokes or riddles is created:

• Between married and tired there is only one letter of difference.
• In this I am and will always be. (Garcilaso de la Vega)
• Three sad tigers ate wheat in a wheat field
• With dice they win counties. (Luis de Góngora)
• How little coconut I eat, little coconut I buy
• In the good republic the priest prays, the farmer plows. (Mariano José de Larra)
• He carries a pike on his shoulder / because her mother-in-law told him / that she has to gain from the pike / what she lost from the beak. (Romance)
• Pampering yourself is not looking at yourself, or undermining yourself.
• The hedgehog bristles, laughs with laughter. (Octavio Paz)
• Late at the table and shorthand at mass.
• So much silly ink that you attentive and that you are stunned. (Tow).
• He got a slander instead of a column... (Manuel Rivas)
• Poor boat of mine / between crags broken, / without awakened sails / and among the waves alone. (Lope de Vega)
• Whoever buys a little brown cape, pays a little brown cape; I, that little brown cape I bought, little brown cape I paid
• Bandaged that you have sold me. (Luis de Góngora)
• The whole sky is an omen / and the whole world is a wonder. (Pedro Calderón de la Barca)
• He will make a steer of his boyfriend. (Francisco de Quevedo)
• Even the judicial damaging. (Lope de Vega)
• Half-up Roman, / Half-bottom Romeros. (Lope de Vega)
• I bring you a dry drink / of wheat and tragedy / an air of halos / and a mist of black cows. (Carlos Edmundo de Ory).

Other clear examples, in addition to poetry or music, can be seen in the jokes or puns:

• I have been chosen for a trifle.
• It is not the same pass me the piza, that step on my belly.
• It is not the same to iron a sleeve than to handle an iron.
• An apathetic uncle is not the same as an atypical duck.

The riddles They also use this resource a lot, let's see some examples: If we leave it, it passes, if we sell it, it weighs, if it makes wine, it steps on, and if we leave it, it lands.

These are some examples used in the most frequent ways, but in the literature you can find many more. If you want keep learning with topics similar to paranomasia examples and definition, be sure to visit our section of Spanish language in which you will find a lot of information.

Alberto, Carlos (1964): Word games and forms of deception in the possession of Don Luis de Góngora.

Sopena, Ramón (1986): Synonyms, Antonyms, Paronyms, Aristos (Barcelona).