Miguel Borrego, a 23-year-old young man from Seville, has made history in the ‘Cifras y Letras’ program by winning the first jackpot of 111,000 euros. The key word for his victory was ‘calambur’, a term that, according to the RAE, refers to a grouping of several syllables that alter the meaning of the words to which they belong. Borrego managed to form the required 12 words in just three minutes, beating his rival Carles Ferrando in a memorable duel.
The word “calambur” has its origin in the French “calembour” and is used in the field of rhetoric to describe a literary device that consists of altering the meaning of a word or phrase by grouping its syllables differently. This play on words can create a new meaning or a double meaning, often for humorous or creative purposes.
Calambur is based on the division of a word into two or more parts and their recombination to produce a new meaning. For example, in the phrase “this is a count and he dissimulates,” the word “count” is divided into “with” and “of,” creating a new meaning that suggests that the individual in question “hides” something.
This literary device has been used by writers and poets throughout history to play with language and semantics, adding complexity or ambiguity to their texts. In the context of ‘Cifras y Letras’, the word “calambur” becomes a symbol of ingenuity and linguistic skill, crowning the first jackpot winner in the history of the program.
The context of this historic final was marked by the recent award of a million-dollar jackpot in another popular contest, ‘Pasapalabra’. Now, ‘Cifras y Letras’, the La2 program presented by Aitor Albizua and experts Elena Herraiz and David Calle, has achieved its own milestone with Borrego’s victory. The broadcast of the program, in which one of the contestants had to form 12 words in three minutes, has been recorded in the history of the contest produced by Atomis Media – Prime Time Media AIE for RTVE.
Miguel Borrego, with his impressive academic career and his passion for contests, has fulfilled his dream of participating and winning in ‘Cifras y Letras’. His victory is not only a personal milestone, but also a historic moment for the program, which after 27 seasons and a return in 2024 after a nine-year hiatus, delivers its first prize.
