Retruécano

Definition

A retruécano is a figure of speech that involves the repetition of words or phrases in reverse order to create a play on words or to convey a contrasting meaning.

Analogy

Imagine you're playing with building blocks. You arrange them in one way, and then you rearrange them in the exact opposite way. That's like a retruécano - it takes the same words and flips them around to create a different meaning.

Related terms

Juego de palabras: This term refers to wordplay, where words are used in clever and playful ways to create humor or emphasize certain ideas.

Paronomasia: Paronomasia is another figure of speech that involves using similar-sounding words with different meanings for rhetorical effect.

Anadiplosis: Anadiplosis is a literary device where the last word of one clause or sentence is repeated at the beginning of the next clause or sentence. It creates a sense of continuity and connection between ideas.