ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Malapropism

Have you ever heard someone say the wrong word by accident? Like if they are trying to say "banana" but instead they say "panama"? This is called a malapropism! Just like when we accidentally say the wrong name of a friend or teacher, we can also say the wrong word by mistake.

Sometimes malapropisms can be really funny, but it's also important to use the correct words so that people can understand us clearly. It's like playing a game of telephone - if we say the wrong word, it can change the entire meaning of what we are trying to say. So let's try our best to use the right words and avoid malapropisms, but if it happens by accident, it's okay to laugh about it and learn from our mistakes!