In our list of two words each week we often have words that are malaprops. A malaprop is the mistaken use of a word in place of the correct word because of similarities in pronunciation or sound. Often these mistakes come with surprising or comical results. Pronounced mal-a-prop, a noun. There are also associated words of malapropism and malapropist,
“Jack took dance lessons and became a very good flamingo dancer.” (Flamenco)
“Sally is headstrong like an allegory” (Alligator)
“Pollen can be really hard on your sciences.” (Sinuses)
“Texas and New York have a lot of electrical votes.” (Electoral)
“I have no delusions about the past.” (Allusions)
“Having just one wife is called monotony.” (Monogamy)
“As Joan got older, she had a problem with very close veins.” (Varicose)
Phonesia is not a word, and some might use it when they mean Polynesia or Phoenicia. It is a good example of a malaprop.
“Although rare, people were sacrificed in Phoenicia.”
“Phoenicians were polytheists as were Egyptians.”
