The English language is a language of many words with similar or identical spellings and pronunciations but different meanings. Oronyms are paronymic words or phrases with similar pronunciations but different spellings and meanings. Many plays on words use oronyms for a comical effect. The following sections list and exemplify some funny and downright strange oronyms in English.
Funny Oronyms
Some oronyms result in similar-sounding sentences that a quite funny. For example:
a nice
an ice
He took a nice cold shower after his date.
He took an ice cold shower after his date.
four candles
fork handles
My mom bought four candles at the store.
My mom bought fork handles at the store.
I scream
ice cream
He screams for I scream.
He screams for ice cream.
Jose
oh say
Jose, can you see?
Oh, say, can you see?
just uttered
just stuttered
Are you aware of the words you just uttered?
Are you aware of the words you just stuttered?
outstanding
out standing
The farmer was outstanding in her field.
The farmer was out standing in her field.
sixty sick students
sixty six students
The teacher had sixty sick students today.
The teacher had sixty six students today.
spice center
spy center
Do you know where the spice center is at?
Do you know where the spy center is at?
stuffy nose
stuff he knows
The stuffy nose can lead to problems.
The stuff he knows can lead to problems.
the sky
this guy
Excuse me while I kiss the sky.
Excuse me while I kiss this guy.
tulips
two lips
The fire burnt her tulips.
The fire burnt her two lips.
Strange Oronyms
Other English oronyms create sentences that are sometimes strange. For example:
can decay many ways
candy came anyways
The good can decay many ways.
The good candy came anyways.
colitis goes by
kaleidoscope eyes
Somebody calls you; you answer quite slowly; a girl with colitis goes by.
Somebody calls you; you answer quite slowly, a girl with kaleidoscope eyes
egg sample
example
Would you like another egg sample?
Would you like another example?
euthanasia
youth in Asia
Some politicians support euthanasia.
Some politicians support youth in Asia.
her ear
her rear
She shrieked when a stranger pinched her ear.
She shrieked when a stranger pinched her rear.
night rate
nitrate
The suspicious men want the night rate.
The suspicious men want the nitrate.
oblivion
a Bolivian
The drunk man fell into oblivion.
The drunk man fell into a Bolivian.
plum pie
plump eye
The ogre hungrily devoured the plum pie.
The ogre hungrily devoured the plump eye.
toy Yoda
Toyota
The grand prize is a new toy Yoda.
The grand prize is a new Toyota.
The English language contains many word and phrases with similar pronunciations but different spellings and meanings. Learning the difference between oronyms is essential for understanding many jokes that use word play in English.
