30 Examples of Calambur

Calambur

The calambur is a Figure of speech which is characterized by altering the union of the words and then modifying the meaning of the sentence. It is a word game that completely modifies the meaning of the sentence by altering the order of some letters or words. For example: Between the white carnation and the red rose, her majesty choose from her. / Between the white carnation and the red rose, her majesty is lame.

This is the best known calambur in history, it was said by Francisco de Quevedo to Queen Mariana of Austria, second wife of Felipe IV and daughter of Fernando III who, certainly, was lame. In the first statement, Quevedo only offers two flowers for the queen to choose between the two, while in the second it clearly indicates that the queen has one leg shorter than the other, that is, that she is lame.

This distinction is visible in writing, but not orally. Therefore, the calambur uses what is not possible to detect in the oral language but is visible in the written language.

Origin of calambur

The calambur is a figure of diction and its origin is not entirely precise. Some attribute this linguistic artifice to Georges de Bièvre (at the court of Louis XVI) towards the Count of Kalemburg, ambassador to Westphalia, whom he subtly mocked with this method for his lack of command of the language French.

Another current affirms that the term derives from the Arabic word kalembusu which means "wrong word". Finally, there are those who indicate that this name derives from Italian calamo will mock which means "mocking with the pen."

Characteristics of the calambur

Examples of calambur

1. Bird! Caesar of Rome. / Sometimes Rome burns.
2. What a week! / Go away, little man.
3. Why did you wash the wheel? / Why does the ball roll?
4. Aitor Tilla / There is an omelette.
5. Alberto Carlos Bustos. / Seeing the busts touch.
6. Alex Tintor / To the fire extinguisher.
7. Armando Esteban. / Armando Esteban.
8. Diners / They eat salts.
9. Pour yourself / Pour tea.
10. The Commander / The walking coma.
11. Count Escoto, neither he is Count, nor Escoto. / Count Escoto neither hides, nor is he a preserve.
12. The militant of the IRA. / The militant raves.
13. The bread is talking. / The bread is soft.
14. Elsa Bor de Lencuentro. / The taste of the meeting
15. I train in a race car. / By train or racing car.
16. Great milestones. / Big ones.
17. Crossed threads. / And the crusaders.
18. The works of yesterday. / yesterday's leftovers.
19. More expensive. / Mask.
20. My mother was laughing. / My mother is sweeping.
21. My neighbor hides. / My neighbor is a count.
22. Don't get bored. / Don't be a donkey.
23. Serapio Joso. / It will be lousy.
24. Servile, lethal, unholy. / Clean napkin.
25. If the King does not die. / The Kingdom dies.
26. If I remove it, she hunts it. / If I (am) crazy, she crazy.
27. If I could see. / If it rained.
28. All because you laugh / All crap.
29. A tea, I want. / I love you.
30. I crazy, crazy and she, crazy. / I put it on and she takes it off.

Other examples of calambur

1. Joke. In an employment office where someone is looking for work: "Are you interested in being a gardener?" “Leave money myself? Neither dreaming! That awful!"
2. Joke. Hello, my name is Enrique Cimiento (enrichment).
3. Riddle. The curtain opens and a burning nun appears. The curtain closes. How is the work titled? - Surprised (Sor caught).
4. Riddle. And it is, and it is... whoever does not guess is stupid... (the thread)

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