Latest / American English Podcast
161 - 10 Words a Day: Handy-Dandy Reduplications
I know, I know, 99% of you are saying what in the world is that? What in the world is a reduplication?
Well I just told you one: Handy-dandy. Handy by itself means useful or practical, in American English you can add dandy for emphasis, intensification and to give it a playful and poetic effect. Handy-dandy is a reduplication.
In English, you’ll hear reduplications in songs and casual conversation! Many times it just involves repeating the first word and changing one consonant or one vowel, like handy dandy, flip flop or chit chat. Sometimes you’ll actually hear the exact same word repeated…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.