Definition

A word or phrase that is created when someone mishears or misunderstands the lyrics of a song or a statement, often leading to a humorous or nonsensical interpretation.

Example

The phrase 'I led the pigeons to the flag' is a famous mondegreen of the song 'The Star-Spangled Banner'.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the term mondegreen?

Yeah, it's when you mishear song lyrics, right?

Exactly! I always thought that one song said 'I led the pigeons to the flag.'

That's a classic example of a mondegreen for sure!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mondegreen is derived from the term 'mondegreen' itself, which was coined by American writer Sylvia Wright in 1954. The word refers to a mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase, especially in a song or poem, where the original meaning is altered. The term is a play on the phrase 'laid him on the green,' which was misheard as 'mondegreen.' Therefore, it does not have traditional roots in Latin, Greek, or Old English, but rather originates from a specific anecdote in modern English.

Memory Tip

Think of a phrase that gets 'misheard' — that's what a mondegreen is, a misunderstanding of lyrics or poetry.

Visually Confused Words