We all make mistakes in English, even us native speakers. Some of these mistakes are made because we are talking too fast or not paying attention as we think about something other than what we are talking about. We have two common expressions in English to describe these errors: a slip of the tongue or a Freudian slip.

A slip of the tongue is usually an error in speech production. It is when you say one word with the wrong pronunciation, but the wrong word you say is a word itself.  For example, here is a slip of the tongue: “I’m cold I need a banquet.” But what this person was really trying to say is “I’m cold I need a blanket.” This was a simple error in pronunciation in which the person said one word (banquet), instead of the right (blanket). You might say the wrong word just slipped out of your mouth; this is why we call this a slip of the tongue.

A Freudian slip is a bit more complicated because there is believed to be more meaning behind the word error that is made. A Freudian slip is a verbal mistake that is believed to be linked to the unconscious mind. So the mistake is not considered a mistake at all, but instead an unconscious thoughts that is coming out in speech. Often Freudian slips are not with words that sound alike at all, like with a slip of the tongue. A common example of a Freudian slip would be calling one’s boyfriend or girlfriend by you mother or father’s name. A Freudian slip gets its name from the psychiatrist Sigmund Freud. He believed mistakes we make when speaking have meaning and aren’t really mistakes at all, but our unconscious mind slipping through into our speech.

Here is a funny expression that explains what a Freudian slip is in English: “It is when you say one thing, but you mean your mother.” This sentence should really read: “It is when you say one thing, but you mean another.” It is funny because Freud tried to tie a lot of development back to one’s relationship with their mother.

No matter what type of mistakes you may make when speaking in English it is important to know we all make mistakes, so don’t worry, you are in good company!