this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2024
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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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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month 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"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Spaßredewort.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I love that, will use it. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Feel like this is an indirect reference to Donnie Darko.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

This is your brain on pop culture.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Tolkien was known to be a big Donnie Darko fan.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago

Definitely 'Euphonic' meaning 'sounds good'.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

I love the word 'kerfuffle'.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

A perfectly woody sort of word!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Thank God somebody got it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Thither

It's just so fun to say.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Serendipity

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Wouldn’t it be a catch phrase?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Joycabulary.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago