Soraismus

What is soraismus?

Soraismus is mixing different languages, often using foreign words incorrectly or without understanding the word’s true meaning.

How to make soraismus

Very simply, to make soraismus one has to know some foreign words. Then substitute these words into one’s native language.

Soraismus can be done by accident. For example, people who do not understand a foreign language will often mix it with their own language.

Examples

SoraismusNon-English language
“How are you today?”
“Comme ci, comme ca.”
French
comme ci, comme ca = so-so

(*literally: ‘like this, like that’)
I love you, mon petit chou.French
mon petit chou’ = a French term of endearment

(*literally: ‘my little cabbage’)
We don’t know what to do. Can you help us? We need a little of your je ne sais quoi.French
je ne sais quois = I don’t know

(*It is often used in English for special skills or knowledge that the speaker doesn’t have or understand)
We have to hurry. Achtung, achtung!German
achtung = attention

(*Because of war films, many English speakers incorrectly think achtung means ‘action’, or ‘go faster’. The German word for fast is actually ‘schnell’.)
“We’ve just had a baby.”
“Mazel tov.”
Hebrew
mazel tov = good luck

(*Mazel tov is often mistakenly used in English to mean ‘congratulations’)

Using soraismus overseas

It is quite common for people to mix languages when abroad because they only know a few words.

SoraismusNon-English language
“Can I have a glass of your finest pijiu?”Chinese
pijiu = beer
“Can I have another beer desu ka?”Japanese
desu ka = article to make a question in Japanese
I drank too much vino. I have a bad guele de bois.Italian, French
vino = wine
guele de bois = hungover

(*guele de bois is literally ‘wooden snout’)