weird words

“Gobbledygook” and Other Words About Confusing Language
“Gobbledygook” and Other Words About Confusing Language
What the Heck Is a “Nurdle”? The Tiny Blob on Your Toothbrush
What the Heck Is a “Nurdle”? The Tiny Blob on Your Toothbrush
What the Heck Is “Crapulous”? It’s Not What You Think
What the Heck Is “Crapulous”? It’s Not What You Think
“Philophobia”: A Word for the Fear of Falling in Love
“Philophobia”: A Word for the Fear of Falling in Love
7 Words That Only Exist in English—Sort Of
7 Words That Only Exist in English—Sort Of
“Eggcorn”: The Mistake That Makes More Sense Than the Original
“Eggcorn”: The Mistake That Makes More Sense Than the Original
What the Heck Is “Zarf”? And Why Do You Use One Every Day?
What the Heck Is “Zarf”? And Why Do You Use One Every Day?
What the Heck Is an “Escutcheon”? The Little Plate Around Your Keyhole
What the Heck Is an “Escutcheon”? The Little Plate Around Your Keyhole
8 Words for Emotions You’ve Definitely Felt but Never Named
8 Words for Emotions You’ve Definitely Felt but Never Named
“Wamble”: A Word for That Noisy Tummy
“Wamble”: A Word for That Noisy Tummy
What the Heck Is a “Tittle”? The Tiny Dot Hiding Above Every i and j
What the Heck Is a “Tittle”? The Tiny Dot Hiding Above Every i and j
10 Delightful Words That Don’t Translate Into English
10 Delightful Words That Don’t Translate Into English
What the Heck Is a “Gobemouche”?
What the Heck Is a “Gobemouche”?
This Word Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means (And You’re Not Alone)
This Word Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means (And You’re Not Alone)
Words That Mean the Opposite of What They Sound Like
Words That Mean the Opposite of What They Sound Like
“Yepsen”: A Word for the Bowl You Make With Your Hands
“Yepsen”: A Word for the Bowl You Make With Your Hands
What the Heck Is “Tmesis”?
What the Heck Is “Tmesis”?
What the Heck Is “Overmorrow”?
What the Heck Is “Overmorrow”?
This Word Describes the Awkward Feeling You Get After a Bad Joke
This Word Describes the Awkward Feeling You Get After a Bad Joke
What the Heck Is a “Scurryfunge”?
What the Heck Is a “Scurryfunge”?
What the Heck Is a “Ferrule”? The Tiny Metal Band You See Everywhere
What the Heck Is a “Ferrule”? The Tiny Metal Band You See Everywhere
“Limerence”: A Word for the Crush That’s Ruining Your Focus
“Limerence”: A Word for the Crush That’s Ruining Your Focus
“Apricity”: A Lovely Word for the Warmth of the Winter Sun
“Apricity”: A Lovely Word for the Warmth of the Winter Sun
What the Heck Is a “Muselet”? The Wire Cage on a Champagne Cork
What the Heck Is a “Muselet”? The Wire Cage on a Champagne Cork
What the Heck Is an “Armscye”? The Name for the Hole Your Sleeve Fits Into
What the Heck Is an “Armscye”? The Name for the Hole Your Sleeve Fits Into
What the Heck Is a “Glabella”? The Space Between Your Eyebrows Has a Name
What the Heck Is a “Glabella”? The Space Between Your Eyebrows Has a Name
What the Heck Is a “Bumbershoot”?
What the Heck Is a “Bumbershoot”?
“Cromulent”: When Fictional Words Become Real
“Cromulent”: When Fictional Words Become Real
What the Heck Is an “Ultracrepidarian”?
What the Heck Is an “Ultracrepidarian”?
What the Heck Is an “Aglet”? The Tiny Word Hiding on Every Shoelace
What the Heck Is an “Aglet”? The Tiny Word Hiding on Every Shoelace
6 Words That Describe Emotions You’ve Felt but Never Knew Had a Name
6 Words That Describe Emotions You’ve Felt but Never Knew Had a Name
“Autological”: A Word That Describes Itself
“Autological”: A Word That Describes Itself
These Words Look Fake But Are Totally Legit
These Words Look Fake But Are Totally Legit
What the Heck Is a “Quockerwodger”?
What the Heck Is a “Quockerwodger”?
“Snollygoster” and Other Amazing Words We Should Definitely Bring Back
“Snollygoster” and Other Amazing Words We Should Definitely Bring Back
What the Heck Is a “Grumbletonian”?
What the Heck Is a “Grumbletonian”?
“Lagom,” “Wabi-Sabi,” and Other Beautiful Concepts with No English Equivalent
“Lagom,” “Wabi-Sabi,” and Other Beautiful Concepts with No English Equivalent
What the Heck Is a “Lunula”? The Half-Moon Hiding on Your Fingernail
What the Heck Is a “Lunula”? The Half-Moon Hiding on Your Fingernail
Why “Yarnbombing” Is a Real Word—and a Real Movement
Why “Yarnbombing” Is a Real Word—and a Real Movement
“Uhtceare”: The Word for Lying Awake with Worry Before Dawn
“Uhtceare”: The Word for Lying Awake with Worry Before Dawn
What the Heck Is a “Punt”? The Mysterious Dent in the Bottom of a Wine Bottle
What the Heck Is a “Punt”? The Mysterious Dent in the Bottom of a Wine Bottle
What the Heck Is “Griffonage”? The Fancy Word for Terrible Handwriting
What the Heck Is “Griffonage”? The Fancy Word for Terrible Handwriting
“Grawlix”: The Name for Those @#$% Symbols
“Grawlix”: The Name for Those @#$% Symbols
“Gardyloo!” and Other Hilarious Obsolete Words
“Gardyloo!” and Other Hilarious Obsolete Words
7 Rare Words That Describe Everyday Feelings
7 Rare Words That Describe Everyday Feelings
What the Heck Is a “Callipygian”?
What the Heck Is a “Callipygian”?
“Jouska”: That Imaginary Argument You Keep Replaying in Your Head
“Jouska”: That Imaginary Argument You Keep Replaying in Your Head
The Weirdest English Words Still in the Dictionary
The Weirdest English Words Still in the Dictionary
“Pogonotrophy”: The Fancy Word for Growing a Beard
“Pogonotrophy”: The Fancy Word for Growing a Beard
“Cacophony,” “Euphony,” and the Sounds They Describe
“Cacophony,” “Euphony,” and the Sounds They Describe
Words That Only Make Sense in Very Specific Situations
Words That Only Make Sense in Very Specific Situations
“Bumfuzzle” and the Joy of Confusing Words
“Bumfuzzle” and the Joy of Confusing Words
Words That Only Exist in Niche Hobbies
Words That Only Exist in Niche Hobbies
5 English Words That Still Feel Foreign
5 English Words That Still Feel Foreign
“Defenestration” and Other Odd Words with Specific Meanings
“Defenestration” and Other Odd Words with Specific Meanings
“Gleeking,” “Tittynope,” and Other Words You’ll Never Unsee
“Gleeking,” “Tittynope,” and Other Words You’ll Never Unsee
“Zugzwang”: The Perfect Word for a Terrible Dilemma
“Zugzwang”: The Perfect Word for a Terrible Dilemma
7 Words That Are Way More Fun to Say Than Use
7 Words That Are Way More Fun to Say Than Use
“Kummerspeck”: When You Eat Your Feelings (Literally)
“Kummerspeck”: When You Eat Your Feelings (Literally)
Words That Feel Like Inside Jokes to English Majors
Words That Feel Like Inside Jokes to English Majors
What the Heck Is “Quomodocunquize”?
What the Heck Is “Quomodocunquize”?
5 Words That Sound Like Spells (But Are Totally Real)
5 Words That Sound Like Spells (But Are Totally Real)
Words That Sound Magical… and Kind of Are
Words That Sound Magical… and Kind of Are
The Longest Words in the English Language—and What They Actually Mean
The Longest Words in the English Language—and What They Actually Mean
What the Heck Is a “Snollygoster”?
What the Heck Is a “Snollygoster”?
Words That Look Dirty But Aren’t
Words That Look Dirty But Aren’t
“Lethologica”: The Word for When You Can’t Remember a Word
“Lethologica”: The Word for When You Can’t Remember a Word
5 Real Words That Sound Completely Made Up
5 Real Words That Sound Completely Made Up
What the Heck Is a “Philtrum”?
What the Heck Is a “Philtrum”?
10 Funny-Sounding Words That Are 100% Real
10 Funny-Sounding Words That Are 100% Real
“Petrichor” and Other Words That Smell Great
“Petrichor” and Other Words That Smell Great
The Word That Describes the Feeling of Words Getting Stuck in Your Head
The Word That Describes the Feeling of Words Getting Stuck in Your Head
“Catawampus”: A Word That Shouldn’t Make Sense—But Does
“Catawampus”: A Word That Shouldn’t Make Sense—But Does
10 Words That Sound Like They Belong in Dr. Seuss Books
10 Words That Sound Like They Belong in Dr. Seuss Books
Why “Agelast” Is the Saddest Word You’ve Never Heard
Why “Agelast” Is the Saddest Word You’ve Never Heard
“Philoprogenitive” and Other Obscure Compliments
“Philoprogenitive” and Other Obscure Compliments
10 English Words That Are Just… Straight-Up Weird
10 English Words That Are Just… Straight-Up Weird
Why “Gobsmacked” Deserves More Respect
Why “Gobsmacked” Deserves More Respect
Words Invented by Accident That We Still Use Today
Words Invented by Accident That We Still Use Today