# Words made up of two languages **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 17, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-made-up-of-two-languages/441708 "2008-03-17T22:00:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 43
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-made-up-of-two-languages/441708/43 "2014-10-16T15:15:35Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > I find it interesting to note that the ancient prohibition against mixing languages in compound words is extinct. It’s rare to find a nonsensical affectation abandoned by even the most priggish of the illiterate pedants. As a priggish pedant myself, I resent that insinuation: _I_ certainly haven’t abandoned the ancient prohibition against mixing languages to form hybrid words! 😛 Although I don’t have a problem with hybrid compounds that are entrenched in the language already, it does grate on me when it occurs in newly-formed words. In fact, I may already be on record around here somewhere as complaining about the term “monokini” designating the bottom half of a bikini bathing suit sold separately from the top. Not only is it a hybrid of the Greek prefix “mono-” and the Austronesian name “bikini”, but it’s a play on the _Latin_ prefix “bi-” replaced by “mono-” to denote “one” instead of “two”. Obviously, the word really ought to be “unikini”! --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-made-up-of-two-languages/441708)._