Etymology

ghoti

G2H4O1T1I1

Today it means: A constructed word said to be an alternative spelling of fish. Full definition →

Bengali ঘটি
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ghoti · noun1

A jocular spelling of fish (/fɪʃ/) used to illustrate irregularities in English spelling: * gh, /f/ as in rough, /ɹʌf/; * o, /ɪ/ as in women, /ˈwɪm.ɪn/; and * ti, /ʃ/ as in nation, /ˈneɪ̯.ʃən/. Though frequently reported to be a coinage of George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950), this term dates back to at least 1855. Although the goal of the word is to highlight the irregularities of the English orthography, it deliberately exaggerates them, as ⟨gh⟩ is /f/ only word-finally and ⟨ti⟩ is /ʃ/ only before a vowel.

ghoti · noun2

  1. Bengali · borrowed fromঘটি
  2. Bengali · borrowed fromঘটি
  3. English todayghoti

Borrowed from Bengali ঘটি (ghoṭi).

Ghoti · noun3

  1. Bengali · borrowed fromঘটি
  2. English todayGhoti

Borrowed from Bengali ঘটি (ghoṭi).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.