Jeringonza is a
Spanish language game played by children in
Spain and all over
Hispanic America. It consists of adding the letter ''p'' after each vowel of a word, and repeating the vowel. For example, ''Carlos'' turns into ''Cápar-lopos''.
For syllables with multiple vowels, usually only the stressed vowel is used. ''
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
'' becomes ''Apaus-trapa-liapa''. Some people treat all vowels alike: they would say ''Apa-upus-trapa-lipi-apa''. Yet another variant inserts the ''p''+vowel at the end of all syllables instead of just after the vowel: ''Carlos'' does not become ''Cápar-lopos'' in this version, but ''Carpa-lospo''.
This language game is also known by alternate names in
Spanish-speaking countries: ''jeringozo'' in
Argentina and
Uruguay, ''jerigonzo'', ''jerigonza'' or ''jerigoncio'' in
Chile and
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
, and so on. In other countries it is called simply ''idioma de la pe'' (Spanish for ''
P-language'') and in Andalucía, "con la pe" (with the P). Most names derive from the Spanish word
jerigonza, which can mean either
jargon or
gibberish
Gibberish, also called jibber-jabber or gobbledygook, is speech that is (or appears to be) nonsense. It may include speech sounds that are not actual words, pseudowords, or language games and specialized jargon that seems nonsensical to outsider ...
.
This game, with almost identical rules but using either the
European Portuguese or the
Brazilian Portuguese language, is popular with
Portuguese and
Brazilian children under the name of
Língua do Pê
Língua dos Pês (Portuguese language, Portuguese, ''P Language'') is a Language game (linguistics), language game spoken in Brazil and Portugal with Portuguese language, Portuguese. It is also known in other languages, such as Dutch language, Dut ...
(Portuguese for ''P-language''), but the word "geringonça" means a complicated, fragile mechanical contraption.
[http://michaelis.uol.com.br/moderno/portugues/index.php?lingua=portugues-portugues&palavra=geringon%E7a]
In other Spanish-speaking countries, similar games add other syllables instead of ''p''+vowel. There are variants that use ''f'' instead of ''p''; this is the case, for example, in
Italian, where the game is called ''
alfabeto farfallino'', meaning "butterfly alphabet", because many modified words sound like ''farfalla'' (i.e., "butterfly"). Yet other variants add ''ti'', ''cuti'' or ''chi'' before each syllable (thus giving ''ticar-tilós'' and ''tiáus-titrá-tiliá'' for the previous examples).
In Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, ''chi'' is used. An example would be: ''Tú estás enamorado(da) de mí'' (''You are in love with me''), which would be said: ''Chi-tú chi-es chi-tás chi-e chi-na chi-mo chi-ra chi-do(da) chi-de chi-mi.''
See also
*
Farfallino alphabet
*
Language game
*
Pig Latin
*
Ubbi dubbi
Ubbi dubbi is a Language game (linguistics), language game spoken with the English language. Originating in America in the 17th century, it was popularized by the 1972–1978 Public Broadcasting Service, PBS children's show ''Zoom (1972 TV series ...
*
Rosarigasino, a similar game from the city of
Rosario
Rosario () is the largest city in the central provinces of Argentina, Argentine province of Santa Fe Province, Santa Fe. The city is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the west bank of the Paraná River. Rosario is the third-most populous ci ...
, Argentina.
*
Variety (linguistics)
References
External links
Jeringozator a translator from Spanish to Jeringonza.
Language games
Latin American culture
Spanish language