International Pig Latin: 7 Funny Word Games from Languages Around the World
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Most native English speakers are familiar with “Pig Latin”, a silly word game played by children (and occasionally adults).
Pig Latin is probably the best-known English-language game. Linguists sometimes call this kind of rule-based wordplay a ludling.
So, how does it work?
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How to Play Pig Latin
In case you grew up under an ock-ray, here's how Pig Latin works:
- If a word starts with a consonant sound or consonant cluster, move that opening sound to the end and add -ay. For example, “three” becomes “ee-thray”.
- If a word starts with a vowel sound, add -ay. For example, “and” becomes “and-ay”. Pig Latin rules vary, though: some players use endings such as -way or -yay, and words beginning with qu or y may be treated differently.
So the name of the game itself becomes ig-pay atin-lay, and the name of this website is uent-flay in-ay ee-thray onths-may.
No one knows who invented Pig Latin. The name was recorded by the late 19th century, while related games appeared under names such as “Hog Latin” even earlier.
Word games can make a conversation sound secret, but only if the people listening don't know the rules. The Simpsons played with that idea in a scene where Bart and Lisa switch to Pig Latin, only to discover that Marge understands them too: “Ap-cray!”
Other times, people use language games simply because they are fun. Here are seven Pig Latin-style games and slang systems from other languages:
1. Spanish Word Game: Jeringonza (“Gibberish”)
The name of this game translates roughly as “jargon” or “gibberish”. Depending on the region, you may hear names such as jeringonza, jerigonza and jeringozo.
In one common version of jeringonza, each vowel is followed by p plus the same vowel. An a, for example, becomes apa. The exact rules, including how players treat diphthongs and stress, vary by region.
The word español becomes “epes-papa-ñopol”, and jeringonza becomes “jepe-ripin-gopon-zapa”.
There are several versions of jeringonza across the Spanish-speaking world. Some use sounds such as chi or f instead of p. Similar games also appear in other languages.
2. Portuguese Word Game: Língua do Pê (“P-Language”)
Língua do Pê means “P-Language” and follows the same broad idea as jeringonza, although the exact rules vary. In some Spanish-speaking regions, you may also hear a related game called idioma de la pe.
Brasil in Língua do Pê would be “Brapa-sipil.” Língua becomes “lipin-guapua”.
3. Italian Word Game: Alfabeto Farfallino (“Little Butterfly Alphabet”)
Italian children play a game similar to jeringonza or língua do pê. Instead of inserting a p, they use f. This produces forms such as cafa-safa (casa, “house”) and stefellafa (stella, “star”).
Italians call this game alfabeto farfallino – “little butterfly alphabet”. This is because all those extra “f”s create words that sound like farfalla, meaning “butterfly”.
4. German Word Game: Löffelsprache (“Spoon Language”)
Löffelsprache means “spoon language”. In the -lew- version, each vowel or diphthong is followed by lew and then repeated. Other versions use an insertion such as -lef- or -lev-.
Take JFK's famous pronouncement “ich bin ein Berliner!”. Despite the persistent myth that America’s 35th president told a Berlin crowd “I am a doughnut”, this phrase simply means “I am a Berliner (i.e. a citizen of Berlin)”.
But what if JFK had been speaking Löffelsprache? Then it would have been “ilewich bilewin eilewein Belewerlilewinelewer!”. Like a tasty Berliner doughnut, that's somewhat of a mouthful.
As you can see, Löffelsprache results in some very long words – and this is in a language that's already famous for having long words.
On an Autobahn (Aulewautolewobahlewahn?), you might see a sign that says Geleweschwilewindilewigkeileweitsbelewegrelewenzulewung. That's Löffelsprache for Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung, or “speed limit”.
5. French Word Game: Verlan (“Back-to-Front”)
Plenty of French slang is formed through verlan, which reverses sounds or swaps syllables to create a new form. For example, français becomes céfran and merci becomes cimer.
The name verlan comes from l'envers – “the inverse” or “back-to-front”. Swap the syllables of l'envers and you get ver-lan. So the word verlan is itself verlan!
A word in verlan often keeps the original meaning, but it also becomes informal and socially marked. Some forms become so common that they take on a life of their own.
One of the best-known examples is meuf, an inversion of femme (“woman” or “wife”). Ma meuf is a colloquial way to say “my girlfriend” or “my partner”, while ma femme normally means “my wife”.
Meuf is so established that speakers have reversed it again to create feumeu. This double transformation is sometimes called verlan au carré, or “verlan squared”. Another example is rebeu, formed from beur, itself a verlan form of arabe.
6. Nordic Word Game: Rövarspråket (“Robber Language”)
Rövarspråket is Swedish for “robber language”. To speak it, repeat each consonant with an o in the middle.
Hur är läget? is Swedish for “How's it going?” In rövarspråket, it becomes hohuror äror lolägogetot? The game's own name becomes rorövovarorsospoproråkoketot.
Rövarspråket became widely known through Astrid Lindgren's books about the young detective Kalle Blomkvist (“Bill Bergson” in English translations), whose characters use it as a secret code.
The same game exists in Norwegian, where it's called røverspråk, and Icelandic, where it's known as goggamál.
7. British Word Game: Cockney Rhyming Slang
Cockney has long been associated with working-class speech in London's East End, although the term and identity have a more complicated history than one neighbourhood or social class. The accent is still heard today, but London speech continues to change.
One famous screen version is Dick Van Dyke's character in Mary Poppins. His attempt at a Cockney accent is widely remembered, although it does not sound much like a London accent.
Cockney English is internationally famous for rhyming slang. The basic pattern replaces a word with a rhyming phrase, then often drops the part that actually rhymes. “Stairs” becomes “apples and pears”, shortened to “apples”, so “up the apples” means “up the stairs”. If you enjoy exploring regional English, these British accent words and phrases are a useful next stop.
Rhyming slang is often presented outside Britain as though every British person uses it daily. In practice, many expressions are regional, dated or unfamiliar. If I said I had a lot of “bees” (from “bees and honey”, meaning “money”), plenty of people in the U.K. would have no idea what I meant.
Some expressions are better known. If you're unsure about something, you can say that you “haven't got a Scooby”: “Scooby-Doo” rhymes with “clue”.
You might also call someone a “berk”, a usually mild insult meaning “idiot”. It was shortened from “Berkeley Hunt”, rhyming slang for a much stronger taboo insult.
These games turn pronunciation, syllables and vocabulary into something you can play with. Try transforming your name or a short sentence, then see whether a friend can work out the rule. For another playful language workout, try these grammar games you can play anywhere.
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