this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2024
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Is there a word for “word or phrase that is fun to say”? (beehaw.org)
submitted 3 months ago by fx3@beehaw.org to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
27 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

In any language, any one of us has certain words or phrases they like to say.

For me, in English, that includes “bedazzled” and “thingamagick” among others.

Howrver, is there some kind of overarching expression for these words? I can’t think of anything in English or my native German, and a quick Internet search didn’t find anything.

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[–] Deebster@lemmy.ml 18 points 3 months ago (3 children)

I can't find a suitable word in English, but I'm shocked and dismayed that German doesn't have anything we could steal.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 20 points 3 months ago (2 children)

No problem. Just make one up!

Sprechspaßwort = speak fun word

Alternatively Sprachspaßwort, meaning language fun word.

I think I like the latter.

[–] 667@lemmy.radio 4 points 3 months ago

This is the real value of agglutinative languages. We sort of try it in English but it doesn’t always work. I don’t speak German, but I recognize the word roots.

[–] dfyx@lemmy.helios42.de 3 points 3 months ago

Sprachspaßwort sounds like something straight out of a law or industry standard which I guess that makes it heterological.

[–] janNatan@lemmy.ml 18 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

We could always make one up. Zungenfreude, tongue joy.

Der Spruch „Vielseitig” hat mir immer Zungenfreude bereitet.

Saying "versatile" always gave me tongue-joy.

Edit: it's pronounced "tsoong-en-froy-duh"

[–] Chozo@fedia.io 2 points 3 months ago

Spaßredewort.

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 17 points 3 months ago (1 children)

euphone

[–] fx3@beehaw.org 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I love that, will use it. Thanks!

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

They've also been called "cellar doors", as when Tolkein said "in Welsh, for me cellar doors are extraordinarily frequent"

[–] Admetus@sopuli.xyz 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Feel like this is an indirect reference to Donnie Darko.

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 months ago

This is your brain on pop culture.

[–] pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 3 months ago

Tolkien was known to be a big Donnie Darko fan.

[–] Diddlydee 11 points 3 months ago

Definitely 'Euphonic' meaning 'sounds good'.

[–] Admetus@sopuli.xyz 7 points 3 months ago

I love the word 'kerfuffle'.

[–] ff0000@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 months ago

Can't think of a word, but want to add 'automagically' to that list.

[–] aninnymoose@lemm.ee 5 points 3 months ago

I don't speak Spanish but I love the word "El sacapuntas" which sounds like a bad word but means pencil sharpener.

[–] ValiantDust@feddit.org 5 points 3 months ago

I can't think of any.

But I'm a bit sad that the French-originating Bonmot is already taken in German (meaning a witty one-liner). It would have been a nice allusion to Bonbon (candy), like words that taste nice.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 5 points 3 months ago

If earworms are things that you hear that get stuck in your head, perhaps this could be "mouthworms". Sounds delightful I hate it.

[–] HamsterRage@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

"Intercourse!"

[–] plumcreek@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

A perfectly woody sort of word!

[–] HamsterRage@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 months ago

Thank God somebody got it.

[–] plumcreek@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 months ago

Thither

It's just so fun to say.

[–] demoman@lemmy.one 2 points 3 months ago

Serendipity

[–] Philote@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 months ago

Wouldn’t it be a catch phrase?

[–] Drusas@kbin.run 2 points 3 months ago

Shabushabu

[–] Dark_Dragon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 months ago

Lickspit

[–] MeetInPotatoes@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 months ago

Joycabulary.