English Language & Usage Asked by Zoot on December 30, 2020
Other languages feature words pronounced as their inverse (such as verlan and fika). What are some examples of this in English? The closest example I can think of it Pig Latin.
Yob is originally back-slang for boy, as is yennap for penny. In the phrase dab it up with (to sleep with) the dab was originally deb, backslang for bed. Of these, so far as I know, only yob remains in current usage.
For more backslang words, see here... http://people.sc.fsu.edu/~jburkardt/fun/wordplay/back_slang.html
Correct answer by Brian Hooper on December 30, 2020
In 1994, Tom Petty's censored radio version of "You Don't Know How It Feels" featured the word "joint" reversed to avoid overt drug references in the song. It sounded like "noij".
In 2003, Missy Elliot's song "Work It" also featured lyrics in reverse. Most listeners mistakenly thought that it was gibberish, or were unable to derive the meaning.
Answered by Zoot on December 30, 2020
Polari has the word eek, from ecaf.
How bona to vada your dolly old eek!
Admittedly, that's Julian & Sandy, but I think it also counts as real Polari.
Answered by TRiG on December 30, 2020
How about "naff" from fanny? Still in common use in Britain.
Answered by John Hare on December 30, 2020
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