The English language is full of colorful expressions that delight the ear and enrich communication. Among the most playful and memorable of these are reduplicatives—a type of word formation where a word or syllable is repeated with slight variation, often to create rhythm, emphasis, or a vivid image. If you've ever said "hocus-pocus," "wishy-washy," or "zigzag," you’ve already used a reduplicative without even realizing it. In this article, we'll explore what reduplicatives are, how they work, their different types, their importance in English language and culture, and finish with 50 fun, useful examples complete with definitions and example sentences. What Are Reduplicatives? Reduplicatives are words or phrases created by repeating or nearly repeating a word or part of a word, sometimes with a vowel or consonant change. These forms are often used for emphasis, rhythm, humor, or sound symbolism. They often fall into three common categories: 1. Exac...
David White is an Australian English teacher who has been living in Peru since 2001. In partnership with his wife Claudia, they are the owners of ¨English For You Language Institute´, an institute that specializes in the teaching of all levels of English from Basic (A1) to Advanced (C2) including international exam preparation. They are also the owners of ELT Educational Services and David is also the Headmaster of the American School, a respected bilingual ib school in Northern Peru.