Paronomasia

Paronomasia refers to intentional wordplay that connects words through similarity in sound, spelling, or pronunciation. Instead of relying only on definition, it uses phonetic resemblance to create emphasis, contrast, irony, or thematic connection. In literary and religious texts, paronomasia is frequently used to reinforce key ideas, connect names with actions, or make passages more memorable. Because its effect depends on sound, it is often difficult to preserve in translation, which can obscure important layers of meaning. Identifying paronomasia helps readers recognize how authors use language itself, not just content, to shape interpretation.