---
title: spoonerism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spoonerism» in the school dictionary: A spoonerism is a slip of the tongue where you swap the first sounds of two words, often by accident and with a funny result: «a well-boiled icicle» instead of «a well-oiled bicycle». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spoonerism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spoonerism, you, Saying, teacher, students · **What happens:** be, swap, boil, oil, name, say · **To what, where:** slip, first sounds, It, Oxford teacher, mistake, ears · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spoonerism» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [spoonerism in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spoonerism.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spoonerism is a slip of the tongue where you swap the first sounds of two words, often by accident and with a funny result: «a well-boiled icicle» instead of «a well-oiled bicycle».

<!-- fold The tree, 35 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spoonerism:m1:1
# text = A spoonerism is a slip of the tongue where you swap the first sounds of two words, often by accident and with a funny result: «a well-boiled icicle» instead of «a well-oiled bicycle».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spoonerism	spoonerism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	slip	slip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tongue	tongue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	11	advmod	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	swap	swap	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	14	amod	_	_
14	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
17	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	often	often	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
20	by	by	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
23	with	with	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
25	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	33	punct	_	_
28	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	33	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
30	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	32	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	boiled	boil	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	33	amod	_	_
33	icicle	icicle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	33	punct	_	_
35	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	42	case	_	_
36	of	of	ADP	IN	_	35	fixed	_	_
37	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	42	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	42	det	_	_
39	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	41	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
40	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	39	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	oiled	oil	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	42	amod	_	_
42	bicycle	bicycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	33	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
43	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	33	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
44	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spoonerism | a slip |  |  |  | of the tongue | tree rules |
| 2 | **swap** | present | you | the first sounds of two words and accident and a funny result |  |  |  |  | vn exchange-13.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=Theme |
| 3 | **boil** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **oil** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is named after William Spooner, an Oxford teacher who was said to make this mistake often.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spoonerism:m2:1
# text = It is named after William Spooner, an Oxford teacher who was said to make this mistake often.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	William	William	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	Spooner	Spooner	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	Oxford	Oxford	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl:relcl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
16	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	17	det	_	_
17	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **name** | present · passive |  | It |  |  | after William |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past · passive |  | a Oxford teacher |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | this mistake |  |  |  | often *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mistake=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Tease my ears» for «ease my tears» is a spoonerism.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spoonerism:x1:1
# text = «Tease my ears» for «ease my tears» is a spoonerism.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Tease	tease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	csubj	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	ease	ease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	tears	tear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	spoonerism	spoonerism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tease** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | my ears |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ear=Patient |
| 2 | **ease** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | my tears |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent tear=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | present |  | a spoonerism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying «fighting a liar» instead of «lighting a fire» is a spoonerism.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spoonerism:x2:1
# text = Saying «fighting a liar» instead of «lighting a fire» is a spoonerism.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	csubj	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	fighting	fight	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	ccomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	lighting	light	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	ccomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	spoonerism	spoonerism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **fight** *in a quote* | gerund |  | a liar |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent liar=Co-Agent |
| 3 | **light** *in a quote* | gerund |  | a fire |  |  |  |  | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fire=Product |
| 4 | **is a** | present | Saying | a spoonerism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher made a spoonerism and said «bunny phone» for «funny bone».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spoonerism:x3:1
# text = Our teacher made a spoonerism and said «bunny phone» for «funny bone».
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spoonerism	spoonerism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	bunny	bunny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Our teacher | a spoonerism |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spoonerism=Product |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Our teacher *not said here* | bunny phone |  |  |  | for funny bone | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent phone=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write three spoonerisms of your own.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spoonerism:x4:1
# text = Write three spoonerisms of your own.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	spoonerisms	spoonerism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | three spoonerisms of your own |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spoonerism=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many famous spoonerisms were probably invented by Spooner's students.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spoonerism:x5:1
# text = Many famous spoonerisms were probably invented by Spooner's students.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	spoonerisms	spoonerism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
5	probably	probably	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	invented	invent	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	Spooner	Spooner	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	students	student	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **invent** | past · passive | Spooner's students | Many famous spoonerisms |  |  |  | probably *property* | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spoonerism swaps sounds, not letters: «chew the dores» for «do the chores».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spoonerism:x6:1
# text = A spoonerism swaps sounds, not letters: «chew the dores» for «do the chores».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spoonerism	spoonerism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swaps	swap	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	chew	chew	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	dores	dore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	chores	chore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swap** | present | a spoonerism | sounds  letters |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **chew** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the dores |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dore=Patient |
| 3 | **do** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the chores |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chore=Eventuality |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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