Words like wishy-washy or mumbo-jumbo, or any words that contain two identical or similar parts (a segment, syllable, or morpheme), are called tautonyms. In linguistics another term for these is rhyming compounds, a subclass of a larger class of words known as reduplicatives. A reduplicative is a word created by reduplication, defined as the process in which the entire word or the stem or root of the word is repeated exactly or with a small change. There are three classes of reduplicatives: (1) Full reduplication of the base word (e.g., “bye-bye,” “goody-goody,” and “bunny-wunny”; with respect to the last word, linguists refer nonsensical words as “motherese,” “caregiver speech,” “child talk,” or “child-directed speech”). (2) Partial reduplication of the base word, with only a change in the first consonant (e.g., “boogie-woogie” and “fuddy-duddy”). (3) Partial reduplication of the base word, with only a change in the root vowel (e.g., “ding-dong” and “flip-flop”).
In many cases, the first word of a tautonym or rhyming compound is a real word while the second part (often nonsensical) is invented to create a rhyme and to create emphasis. Most tautonyms begin as hyphenated words and through common usage eventually drop the hyphen to become single words. Regardless of their hyphenation, they underscore the playfulness of the English language. Below are some common tautonyms (many function as nouns and verbs). If you enjoy writing challenges, try writing a single sentence that uses many or all of these words; however, it cannot turn out to be mumbo-jumbo.
argle-bargle: nonsense; heated argument
argy-bargy: heated argument
arsy-varsy: head over heels
boob-tube: television
boogie-woogie: blues-style music with a strong, fast beat; a dance to pop or rock music
chick flick: a movie primary for women
chiller-killer: a refrigerated heat exchange system
crisscross: intersecting straight paths or lines
dilly-dally: to waste time through indecision or loitering
ding-dong: the noise made by a bell; in the UK, slang for a woman’s breast; a noisy argument; an idiot
ding-a-ling: a foolish person
fancy-schmancy: elaborately decorated to impress
fiddle-faddle: a trademarked name for popcorn
flimflam: nonsense; to swindle
flip-flop: a light sandal; backward handspring; abrupt reversal of a position or policy
fuddy-duddy: a fussy or old-fashioned person
gewgaw: cheap, showy jewelry or thing
hanky-panky: improper behavior, typically sexual in nature
harum-scarum: impetuous
heebie-jeebies: a state of nervous fear, anxiety
helter-skelter: disorder or confusion; in disorderly haste
higgledy-piggledy: in a disorderly manner
hobnob: to mix socially, particularly with those of high social status
hocus-pocus: meaningless activity or talk, often to draw attention away from something
hodgepodge: a motley assortment of things
hoity-toity: snobbish
hokey-pokey: trickery; a song that describes the movements of a dance performed in a circle
hotchpotch: a motley assortment of things; a mutton stew with vegetables
hubba hubba: a phrase to express enthusiasm or approval
hubble-bubble: a hookah, an oriental tobacco pipe with a long flexible tube connected to a container where the smoke is cooled by passing through water
hubbub: chaotic noise created by a crowd of people; a busy, noisy situation
hugger-mugger: disorderly; secret
hullabaloo: a commotion
hurdy-gurdy: a musical instrument that makes music by rotation of a cylinder that is studded with pegs
hurly burly: busy or noisy activity
itty-bitty: very small
jingle-jangle: the sound that metallic items make
knickknack: a small object, often a household ornament, of little or no value
lovey-dovey: extremely affectionate or romantic
mishmash: a random assortment of things
mumbo jumbo: language or ritual causing, or intending to cause, confusion
namby-pamby: weak in willpower, courage or vitality
niminy-piminy: very dainty or refined
nitty-gritty: the most important details about something
okey-dokey: OK
pall-mall: a 16th century game in which a wooden ball was drive through an iron ring suspended at the end of an alley
pell-mell: in a rushed or reckless manner
ping-pong: table tennis
pitter-patter: the sound of quick light steps; to move or make the sound of quick light steps
prime-time: the time period when most people watch television
razzle-dazzle: showy, noisy activity designed to impress
riffraff: undesirable people
roly-poly: plump
shilly-shally: failing to act decisively
singsong: the repeated rising and falling of a person’s voice as they speak
skimple-skamble: senseless, gibberish
so-so: neither very good nor very bad
super-duper: very good
teeny-weeny: very small, tiny
teeter-totter: a seesaw
tick-tock: the sound of a clock ticking; making a ticking sound
tighty-whities: snug white briefs worn by males (variant: tight-whiteys)
tittle-tattle: light informal conversation for social occasions
tohubohu: utter confusion, chaos
tootsie-wootsie (also toots-wootsy): a term of endearment
topsy-turvy: upside down; in a state of confusion
voodoo: followers of a religion that involves witchcraft and animistic deities
walkie-talkie: portable two-way radio
wigwag: to move to and fro
willy-nilly: whether one likes it or not; haphazardly
wishy-washy: weak, feeble, lacking character
yada yada (or yadda yadda): used as a substitute for a longer predictable story; boring language
zigzag: a line or course with abrupt right and left turns; veering alternatively to right and left
Are there any other tautonyms missing from this list?
Read related posts: What is the Longest Word in English Language?
Word Oddities: Fun with Vowels
What is an Abecedarian Insult?
Difficult Tongue Twisters
Rare Anatomy Words
What Rhymes with Orange?
For further reading:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254220098_Just_a_Load_of_Hibber-Gibber_Making_Sense_of_English_Rhyming_Compounds
