Jeringozo is a language game on the Spanish language played by children in Argentina and other countries. It consists on adding a syllable beginning with p followed by the same vowel after any syllable. For example "Carlos" turns into "Cárpa-lóspo". For syllables with multiple vowels, only the stressed vowell is normally used. "Buenos Aires" becomes "Buépe-nóspo Ápai-réspe". Some people treat all vowels alike. They would say "Bupu-epe-nospo Apa-ipi-respe". Accents (stress marks) and hyphens are not used in written jeringozo.

Jeringozo comes from the Spanish word jerigonza, which means a specific language or speaking style from a group (i.e.: jargon).

In Chile this wordplay is called jerigonzo, jerigonza or jerigoncio. (Uruguay possibly knows the game under jeringozo). In other Spanish language speaking countries it is be called by other names.

This game, with almost identical rules but using the Portuguese language, is popular with Brazilian children under the name of Língua do Pê (P language).

In other Spanish-speaking countries, similar games add ti before each syllable, thus giving ticár-tilós and tibué-tinós tiaí-tirés for the above examples.

See also

• Jerigonzo, the Chilean version of this game.
• Pig Latin
• Language game
• Variety (linguistics)

External link

Jeringozator, a translator from Spanish to Jeringozo