In South Africa, the word spookasem is a term for cotton candy, although it literally translates as ghost’s breath. Elsewhere in the English-speaking word, the sweet stuff is also called candy floss or fairy floss. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Spookasem, Ghost’s Breath”
There’s a South African term that’s spelled S-P-O-O-K-A-S-E-M, and it’s pronounced Spuck-awesome.
Spuck-awesome.
And it means ghost breath, literally, but it’s a term for cotton candy.
Oh, nice.
Isn’t that cool?
Like fairy floss is the Britishism for it.
Yes, fairy floss and candy floss.
So I think I can hear the roots of that word, spoke awesome,
Like awesome as an asthmatic having to do with your breath maybe,
But the spook is clearly in there, meaning a ghost.
Yes, spook awesome.
Spook awesome.
Nice, very good.
Call us.
We want to talk with you about language.
877-929-9673 or send us an email.
The address is words@waywordradio.org.
