A spoonerism is a linguistic phenomenon where the initial sounds or letters of two or more words are swapped to create a humorous or nonsensical effect. For example, saying "tease my ears" instead of "ease my tears" is a classic spoonerism. This playful manipulation of language often leads to amusing misunderstandings. Spoonerisms are named after Reverend William Archibald Spooner, a 19th-century Anglican cleric known for his frequent verbal mix-ups. They are often used in comedy and literature to add humor or to highlight the quirks of language. Spoonerisms can also serve as a fun way to engage with words and their sounds.