People say you can’t taste pictures, but I’m afraid I have to disagree. Not only can you remember what the wooden spoon of a popsicle tasted like, but you also remember the texture of something you find disgusting. Like the first time you touch a frog, did that feel slimy or slimey?
Slimy is the correct spelling, as is an adjective derived from the word slime. Slimy refers to something of a slippery texture. The spelling falls under the grammar rules, which states that to turn a noun into an adjective, you must add a suffix, and there is no -ey suffix to make it “slimey”.
When it comes to differences in words, pronunciation is okay, but spelling is a whole other thing that needs to be considered. Knowing the correct spelling of a not-so-common word is crucial as not many people may recognize it. Context shouldn’t be compromised because of a typo.
Slimy or Slimey?
Slimy is an adjective that has been in use since 1800 while peaking just in 2019. It is used to refer to something covered or resembling slime. Slime is an irksome, thick, and oily substance. It comes from Old English, a combination of Dutch, German, Latin, and English, which means mucus.
Some examples with the word slimy are the following:
- Be careful with the steps; they look slimy.
- The hardest part of going back up in the banana is that the plastic is really slimy.
- When we get to the lake, make sure you wear your water shoes. The rocks could be slimy.
- Babies look so cute until they get a cold, then all you see is a slimy face.
- He was very handsome and attentive all night, but his hair was really slimy. I can’t picture myself seeing that every day.
- Frogs are lovely to look at until you touch them, and it feels so slimy.
- The kids started running around after eating jello, leaving a slimy trail of gross behind.
- Kombucha is a fermented drink that forms slimy masses on the surface, and it makes it look like a mushroom hat.
- Pasta should be eaten al dente. If you overcook it, it is going to feel slimy once mixed with the sauce.
- If you see something slimy coming out of a tree pine, take it and put it in a jar with some warm water. It can make a fantastic DIY perfume for father’s day.
- Take all the rocks you brought from the lake and put them in hot water so you can get rid of the slimy film on them.
- I need to wash my face every few hours; otherwise, it will get all slimy.
- She loved eating octopus until she touched one while it was still alive. She can’t shake the feeling of its slimy tentacles.
- Stop buying lettuce cause you never eat it. I’m the one who ends up throwing it in the garbage, and I hate slimy lettuce.
- A slug fell on my hand once; it was so slimy that it just slid right off.
- If you touch meat and it feels slimy, it means it is not as fresh as they advertise it.
- I can believe people eat shellfish. That time I had a mussel; it was so slimy I almost puked.
- The driveaway needs cleaning every once in a while. It is starting to look really slimy.
- I don’t know what he had in his hands, but the tablet feels slimy. It’s so disgusting!
- When was the last time you cleaned that pot? It has slimy sediment on the bottom.
Slimy, in slang, can be used to refer to a person who is dishonest or rude. e.g., He is so slimy. You cannot trust him.
Why Do People Get Them Confused?
It is pretty easy to confuse words because the English language, like any other language, keeps on changing and evolving. The words that we see today might not be the ones 100 years ago. As much as we may enjoy reading Shakespeare, the version we have in schools right now is not the original one. In order to read a book from 400 years ago, you would have to study a whole other dialect under the English language.
With words like slimey and slimy, some things need to be taken into consideration. Is this a misspelling? Is it a variant from another region or country? Do they sound the same? Are they the same type of words?
Is It A Misspelling Or A Variant?
It is more likely a misspelled version of slimy. Based on other regions, slimy is the correct spelling for this word.
Are They Homophones?
Yes, they are. Homophones are words with different spelling and, most times, other meanings, but the pronunciation is the same. Keep in mind that it is entirely normal to misspell a word when writing as we can say it our whole lives and have never actually read them.
Some examples of homophones in the English language are the following:
- aunt vs ant
- ate vs. eight
- bare vs. bear
- bean vs. been
- genes vs. jeans
- slimey vs. slimy
Adjectives VS Adverbs
Sometimes you find yourself writing about something and run into this word that you wish to describe something, but you may be confused about how it is spelled. Many words belong to a part of speech that has a particular spelling. For example, adverbs are in the parts of speech, and they are used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
When we are talking about spelling an adverb correctly, there are some rules to follow, but at the end, most adverbs end in a -y. easy to confuse slimey as a correct spelling for slimy as well.
Slimy In Other Contexts
- Slimy milk. If, before opening your milk, the container looks bloated, it is possible that it has gone bad, and it may look slimy.
- Slimy poop. New mothers are always on the lookout for abnormalities, but mucus in newborns’ poop is completely normal.
- Slimy discharge. When it’s that time of the month, it is normal to see some slimy discharge from your uterus; just be on the lookout for color changes.
- Slimy meat. Whether it is beef, pork, or any type of poultry, the slimy-looking texture is something to stay away from. This rule also applies to deli and cheese.
- Slimy eggshell. If your eggs shell looks slimy, it may have been in contact with bacteria. Please don’t eat them!
- Slimy fruit. Some fruits have the characteristics of having a slimy texture.
- Slimy food. Most of the dishes from the Japanese cuisine have a slimy texture, but it doesn’t mean that it is uncooked or gone bad. It is just the way it is.
- Slimy Kimchi. Kimchi is a Korean dish that is of great flavor, but it should never look slimy, so if it does. It’s gone bad.
- Slimy liquid. It is a dietary supplement.
- Slimy mouth. A slimy mouth is a sign of dehydration that comes from feeling the saliva in your mouth extremely thick.
- Slimy Okra. Okra is a superfood that most people refuse to eat because of its slimy texture. But if placed in vinegar, it can reduce the slime.
- Slimy tongue. If your tongue feels slimy, it may be related to a yeast infection. If it also looks white, no matter how much you brush, it may be a sign of acid reflux.
Conclusion
It doesn’t matter the spelling when you say it, but if you are going to write it, make sure you remember the letters. The only worst thing for misspelling something is to make up a brand new word.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.