Malapropism
Using the wrong word in place of a similar-sounding one, with comic effect — a pineapple of politeness, dance a flamingo.
Full definition of Malapropism →:: COMPARE ::
MalapropismvsMondegreen
The short answer
A malapropism is a SPEAKER using the wrong word. A mondegreen is a LISTENER hearing the wrong words. Same acoustic confusion, opposite end of the transmission — and only one of them is embarrassing.
Side by side
| Aspect | Malapropism | Mondegreen |
|---|---|---|
| Error occurs in | The speaker | The listener |
| Produces | A wrong word | A wrong phrase |
| Speaker knows | No | n/a |
| Named after | A character, 1775 | A mishearing, 1954 |
What each one means
Mondegreen
A misheard lyric or phrase that produces a new, often better one — and a word coined from exactly such a mishearing.
Full definition of Mondegreen →