In the United States, innuendo and double entendre were only lightly used in radio media until the 1980s when the Howard Stern Show began to push the envelope of what was acceptable on the radio through use of double entendre and ironies.
Double entendre, in fact, originated in an obsolete expression in French, which means “double meaning.” The origins of pun are less certain, but it likely traces to the Italian word puntiglio meaning “fine point, quibble.”
Double entendres are common in music and literature, adding humor or hidden meanings. A double entendre is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase can be understood in two ways, especially when one meaning is risqué. Also called innuendo.
Inherited from Middle French entendre and Old French entendre, from Latin intendere (“to turn one’s attention, to strain”). Cognate with Catalan entendre, Spanish entender, English intend.
What is a Double Entendre? The term “double entendre” comes from the French, meaning “double meaning.” Essentially, it’s a phrase or a figure of speech that has two interpretations—one being a straightforward, innocent meaning, and the other being suggestive, risqué, or even humorous.
English Translation of “ENTENDRE” | The official Collins French-English Dictionary online. Over 100,000 English translations of French words and phrases.
ENTENDRE translate: to hear, to understand, hear, hear, overhear. Learn more in the Cambridge French-English Dictionary.
A double entendre is a word or phrase with two meanings—one obvious and innocent, one hidden and often humorous. Writers use double entendres for wordplay, humor, and layered meaning. Double entendres appear throughout literature, advertising, and everyday speech. Understanding this device helps students recognize wordplay and appreciate the complexity of language.