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Last updated:
January 7, 2023
Learning English is not always easy. English is especially known for having a crazy vocabulary that can make things tricky for learners.
Even if you’ve mastered all the important grammar rules, slang words and idioms, weird English words come along and can still leave you feeling a bit confused!
Lucky for you, this post will introduce you to 15 weird English words that you should know!
Contents
- 1. Kerfuffle (kəˈfʌf(ə)l)
- 2. Hullaballoo (ˌhʌl.ə.bəˈluː)
- 3. Cacophony (kəˈkɒf(ə)ni)
- 4. Ragamuffin (ˈraɡəmʌfɪn)
- 5. Whippersnapper (ˈwɪpəsnapə)
- 6. Gobbledygook (ˈɡɒb(ə)ldɪˌɡuːk)
- 7. Gibberish (ˈdʒɪb(ə)rɪʃ)
- 8. Poppycock (ˈpɒpɪkɒk)
- 9. Discombobulate (ˌdɪskəmˈbɒbjʊleɪt)
- 10. Flummox (ˈflʌməks)
- 11. Curmudgeon (kəːˈmʌdʒ(ə)n)
- 12. Lackadaisical (ˌlakəˈdeɪzɪk(ə)l)
- 13. Woebegone (ˈwəʊbɪɡɒn)
- 14. Lollygag (ˈlɒlɪɡaɡ)
- 15. Frankenfood (ˈfraŋk(ə)nfuːd)
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can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
1. Kerfuffle (kəˈfʌf(ə)l)
Kerfuffle (noun) has been around since the early 1800s and probably came from either Scottish Gaelic or from Celtic Irish, the languages that were used historically in Scotland and Ireland.
It means to make a fuss or a bother, usually when people have different points of view.
What’s all the shouting for? Why are you making such a kerfuffle?
2. Hullaballoo (ˌhʌl.ə.bəˈluː)
“Did you hear all that hullaballoo in the office today?”
A word that really sounds like what it means, hullaballoo (noun) is the loud noises and shouting that people make when they’re angry.
It’s been part of the English language since the middle of the 18th century.
3. Cacophony (kəˈkɒf(ə)ni)
Another word related to noise, a cacophony (noun) is a mixture of horrible sounds. Imagine birds screeching, alarm bells ringing and babies screaming… and you’ve got yourself a cacophony!
You may already know that words that end in phone or phony are related to sound in some way. Cacophony comes from a Greek word made up from kacos (bad) and phone (sound). It entered English in the mid 1600s.
4. Ragamuffin (ˈraɡəmʌfɪn)
Ragamuffin (noun) comes from the English that was used during the Middle Ages.
You’ve probably heard the word rag, right? A dirty and scruffy piece of old cloth. So it’ll make sense to know that a ragamuffin is a person who wears dirty and scruffy clothes – clothes that are just like rags!
It’s usually used for children, and you may also sometimes hear it used to describe scruffy-looking animals.
I send my children to school dressed smartly, and they come home like little ragamuffins!
5. Whippersnapper (ˈwɪpəsnapə)
Nothing to do with whips or snaps, say whippersnapper (noun) quickly and you’ll create a funny and harsh sound!
Although this term is a little bit old-fashioned today, it’ll certainly make people smile if you use it.
It’s been part of the English language since the 17th century and is a mixture of two terms. One referred to a lazy person who had no ambitions. The other term was used for young people who lived on the street and did bad things, like stealing.
The meaning has changed over the years, and today it’s used for a young person who’s too confident and perhaps a little cheeky! It’s a perfect word to use for an inquisitive child who just can’t stop questioning and correcting their parents!
6. Gobbledygook (ˈɡɒb(ə)ldɪˌɡuːk)
Close your eyes for a second and think of a turkey. What sound does it make? Does it sound something like “gobble, gobble, gobble”? That’s exactly where this word came from!
Created from the meaningless sound that turkeys make, gobbledygook (noun) was originally an American English word. It was created in the 1940s to mean words that are nonsense or have no meaning.
It also describes when people use too many technical words and so other people can’t understand what they’e saying.
The Director was talking a load of gobbledygook in that meeting. I have no idea what he wants!
7. Gibberish (ˈdʒɪb(ə)rɪʃ)
If someone is talking gobbledegook they’ll also be talking gibberish!
Gibberish (noun) means the same: nonsense words and phrases that sound like English but have little meaning.
Gibberish is an older term than gobbledegook. It’s been in use since the mid 16th century. It’s not known where the word came from, but many people believe it was taken from either a similar Spanish or Swedish word.
8. Poppycock (ˈpɒpɪkɒk)
Have you ever listened to somebody trying to talk about something that they know absolutely nothing about? You know that what they’re saying is completely untrue, yet they insist on continuing to talk?
It’s highly likely that they’re talking poppycock! Poppycock has nothing to do with poppies (a type of flower) or cocks (a male bird and a slang term for a man’s intimate body parts!)
Poppycock actually came from the Dutch word pappekak, which is made from pap (soft) and kak (poop!). It’s been part of English since the 1800s.
What a load of poppycock!
9. Discombobulate (ˌdɪskəmˈbɒbjʊleɪt)
Mainly used in North American English, if somebody’s talking lots of gibberish, gobbledegook and poppycock, they may be trying to discombobulate (verb) another person. You may feel a little discombobulated (adjective) by all these strange words!
Confused? You should be! Discombobulate means to confuse!
It’s been used since the mid 19th century, and is mainly used in a funny way.
What’s the matter? You look a little discombobulated!
10. Flummox (ˈflʌməks)
If you’re now feeling very discombobulated you are also flummoxed (adjective)!
To flummox a person (verb) means to confuse them a lot.
It came into the English language in the middle of the 19th century. It was taken from dialects used in some parts of the UK.
11. Curmudgeon (kəːˈmʌdʒ(ə)n)
Are you trying to find just the right word for someone who’s very bad-tempered and grumpy? Curmudgeon (noun) might be just the word that you’re looking for!
Dating back to at least the 16th century, this word has been used for a long time.
I don’t like our English teacher… he is a real curmudgeon!
12. Lackadaisical (ˌlakəˈdeɪzɪk(ə)l)
How about if you want to describe that someone’s lazy and has no enthusiasm or determination? Lackadaisical (adjective) would be perfect in this situation!
It’s been in use since the 1700s, although where it came from isn’t clear.
My sister has no job and is doing nothing to find one. She is so lackadaisical.
13. Woebegone (ˈwəʊbɪɡɒn)
Another terrific adjective. Can you guess what a woebegone person looks like?
It’s easy to break this word into two parts – woe (extreme sadness) and begone (an old-fashioned word that means surrounded by something).
So, woebegone means “surrounded by sadness.” It comes from Middle English, English that was used during the Middle Ages.
Why do you look so woebegone?
14. Lollygag (ˈlɒlɪɡaɡ)
What a fantastic verb: to lollygag! Nothing to do with lollies or gags, it actually means to be idle and lazy or to waste time.
It’s most common in the USA. It’s not unusual to hear parents shout to their children to “stop lollygagging” – now you’ll know what they’re talking about!
The word has been used since the 1800s.
15. Frankenfood (ˈfraŋk(ə)nfuːd)
Very new when compared to all the others on the list, the word Frankenfood (noun) came into existence in the 1990s.
It’s used informally for genetically modified (GM) foods. GM foods are those that have been scientifically altered in some way, that haven’t grown naturally.
Frankenfood is a combination of the words Frankenstein and food.
I’m not eating there! They use Frankenfoods!
While these are all great examples of weird English words, they are not the only ones out there. To find more strange words, you can expose yourself to native English and naturally come across some of those funky words.
Try reading books, watching movies or listening to music in English. All of these are great ways to pick up new vocabulary.
You can also try FluentU which intentionally introduces you to English as it’s actually used through authentic videos like movie clips, music videos etc.
There are also learning tools like interactive subtitles, quizzes and flashcards that will help you learn. FluentU is available on iOS and Android.
There’s no need to feel discombobulated if you hear gibberish – learning new words can be easy once you start!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
The English language is one of the most descriptive languages of all time. At the same time, there are some pretty weird words within the language!
Read on below and discover our picks for 25 of the weirdest words in English.
English is one of the most diverse Indo-European languages of our times. It is full of wonderful words that allow us to express ourselves in much greater detail than many languages.
That said, being derived from scores of languages, English contains some seriously weird words!
Here are our picks for the top 25 weirdest words in the English language:
1. Gobbledygook (noun)
One of the weirdest sounding American English words ever invented is the noun Gobbledygook! The word dates back to the 1940s and represents something that doesn’t make sense. The word is also used to describe people who purposefully try to confuse others with their words.
Example sentence using gobbledygook:
“That salesman was talking nothing but gobbledygook… I don’t understand a word he said!”
2. Curmudgeon (noun)
This English word dates back to the 1500s, it means; a person that is very bad-tempered. That said, you very rarely hear the word being used today!
Example sentence using curmudgeon:
“I’m not a fan of Lisa’s dad, he seems like a serious curmudgeon!”
3. Kerfuffle (noun)
To kerfuffle is to bother or fuss over something. This weird English word can be traced back to both old Ireland and Scotland during the 19th century or earlier.
Example sentence using kerfuffle:
“What is all this kerfuffle about, then? Where’s the fire?”
4. Lackadaisical (adjective)
The origins of the word lackadaisical aren’t able to be traced back to a specific point and time. What we do know is that it has been in use since the 18th century. It means; someone who lacks drive, or enthusiasm, towards life, in general.
Example sentence using lackadaisical:
“Ha! You asked Jordan to help you? Good luck! That guy is as lackadaisical as they come!”
5. Hullaballoo (noun)
Another seriously weird word, Hullaballoo, has been a part of the language since the 1700s. Just as the name suggests, it represents the loud noise that people make when they are excited or arguing about something or another.
Example sentence using hullabaloo:
“Can you believe the hullabaloo this afternoon in the parking lot? I’ve never seen such a mess before!”
6. Woebegone (adjective)
Woebegone is a word that is used to describe people who are stricken with grief and sorrow. How long the world has been around isn’t quite clear.
Example sentence using woebegone:
“I was woebegone at the thought of losing her forever…”
7. Lollygag (verb)
To lollygag is to lolly or gag around. In other words, one who lollygags takes their dear sweet time in all that they do (and is most likely naturally lazy).
Example sentence using lollygag:
“Here comes another wave of the buggers, boys! Ready yourselves! Now isn’t the time to lollygag!”
8. Cacophony (noun)
A cacophony is practically the opposite of a beautiful symphony; it is a horrible mixture of sounds that is terrible to hear. The word showed up in English back in the middle of the 1500s.
Example sentence using cacophony:
“None of them knew how to play their instruments properly, and the cacophony they produced sent all their parents running.”
9. Flummox (verb)
This clever and weird verb is first used in the 1800s. It means; to confuse someone. If you flummox someone, you’ve gotten one over on them.
Example sentence using flummox:
“The humans were very adept at these sorts of games, but they just couldn’t seem to flummox the AI”
10. Discombobulate (verb)
To discombobulate someone is to confuse them. The word popped up during the middle of the 1800s and has been in use ever since then.
Example sentence using discombobulate:
“The politician’s words went in circles until the whole crowd, and even the politician himself was discombobulated. He had no idea what to say next.”
11. Ragamuffin (noun)
The old English word ragamuffin has been in use for hundreds of years, dating back to the dark ages. The root of the word comes from “rag” or “dirty old cloth”, therefor a ragamuffin is a person that wears dirty old rags, or looks like such.
Example sentence using ragamuffin:
12. Poppycock (noun)
The old Dutch words pap and kak, meaning “soft” and “poop” became a single English word sometime during the 1800s. Since then, it has become a fun way to tell someone that they have no idea what they’re talking about.
Example sentence using poppycock:
“Why, that notion is simply absurd! Poppycock and hogwash, I say!”
13. Bumfuzzle (verb)
The weird English word, bumfuzzle, means to purposefully confuse, fluster, or perplex someone. The word is much more commonly used in the Eastern and Southern parts of the United States.
Example sentence using bumfuzzle:
“That woman is a real bumfuzzle! She gets me every time!”
14 Cattywampus (adjective) (adverb)
The meaning of this weird English word is; something that is sideways, askew, or otherwise sitting at an angle from your standpoint. The term catty-corner (or kitty-corner) is a much more widely used version of the word.
Example sentence using cattywampus:
“Help me move this wardrobe cattywampus to the foot of the bed. Thanks, we can sit it down right here!”
15. Gibberish (noun)
The exact origins of the word gibberish are unknown, though it is thought to be an older version of gobbledygook. The word possibly evolved into a weird English word from the Swedish or Spanish language.
Example sentence using gibberish:
“Those old boys were talking nothing but gibberish! I have no idea what they were saying!”
16. Taradiddle (noun)
The weird English word taradiddle is another way of saying a “fisherman’s tale.” For those who aren’t familiar with the term, it represents someone who is regularly exaggerating or outright lying about things (like the size of the fish they caught).
Example sentence using taradiddle:
“I didn’t dare share the most pivotal parts of my cryptid encounters in my book, for fear of being labeled a taradiddle for sure!”
17. Whippersnapper (noun)
A whippersnapper originally represented a young ruffian who lived on the street and stole things, tricked people, and/or was mouthy. The word has been around since the 1600s when the sound of it was much more commonplace.
Example sentence using whippersnapper:
“Why, you little whippersnapper! I oughta give ya what for!” *Shakes fist at a pack of young hooligans*
18. Widdershins (adverb)
To move in widdershins is to move counter-clockwise. The old English word is often used today in poetry, literature, and occult practices like Wicca.
Example sentence using widdershins:
“The witches gleefully chanted up at the moon, moving widdershins around the circle, in their nakedness fully attuned.”
19. Bumbershoot (noun)
Believe it or not, this old English word means “umbrella.” In fact, if you’ve ever heard it in use before it was probably in reference to an umbrella in a Disney film!
Example sentence using bumbershoot:
“Oh no, here comes the rain! We better open our Bumbershoot before we get wet”!
20. Collywobbles (noun)
When you have the “collywobbles”, you have a strange feeling in the pit of your stomach. The Latin term, cholera morbus, or Cholera, is thought to be the origin of the weird English word, collywobbles.
Example sentence using collywobbles:
“As soon as the teacher called my name to come to the front of the class and write my answer on the blackboard, I felt the collywobbles.”
21. Malarky (noun)
The term “malarky” has been around since the early 20th century and is still in use today. The word means; something that is insincere or foolish.
Example sentence using malarky:
“That’s nothing but a big fat load of malarky! Not a single word of it is true!”
22 Brouhaha (noun)
A “brouhaha” is a weird English word that represents the sound that a large group of people make when they are excited or angry about something and moving around, talking, yelling, and otherwise making a racket.
Example sentence using brouhaha:
“Did you hear that brouhaha this afternoon in the parking lot? I’ve never in my life witnessed such a scene!”
23. Nincompoop (noun)
The weird word “nincompoop” has been used in the English language for three-quarters of a century. It is used to describe someone that is foolish, stupid, or silly.
Example sentence using nincompoop:
“That Jordan guy bangs on keyboards all day. What is actually he doing with his life? He seems like a real nincompoop!”
24. Snollygoster (noun)
A “snollygoster” is the type of politician that does things for themselves, and their benefactors, rather than for the people who voted them into power (which is who they represent).
Example sentence using snollygoster:
“That governor from £$%&*$* is a real snollygoster. I wonder how that rich a£$%^&e sleeps at night!”
25. Frankenfood (noun)
The term Frankenfood sprang into existence back in the late 20th century. The monstrous-sounding word is simply another way to say GM food, or genetically modified food.
Example sentence using frankenfood:
“I wouldn’t touch that frankenfood with my worst enemy’s fork! Look at it! This GM chicken filet is bigger than Pam Anderson’s left breast!”
Have you ever worn winklepickers or salopettes? Is the saying about French women and their oxters true? Do your friends complain that you bibble too much? Have you ever experienced zoanthropy and been convinced you were an elephant?
If you’re confused as to how to answer any – or all – of these questions, never fear! We’ve created this confusion, and we’re here to clear it up with this alphabetical list of 26 weird English words and their meanings.
Do you have a favorite weird word in English or any other language? Drop us the word and definition in the comments section below!
agastopia
n. – admiration of a particular part of someone’s body
bibble
v. – to drink often; to eat and/or drink noisily
cabotage
n. – coastal navigation; the exclusive right of a country to control the air traffic within its borders
NOT: v. – to sabotage with cabbage and/or Vermont Cabot Cheese
doodle sack
n. – old English word for bagpipe
erinaceous
adj. – of, pertaining to, or resembling a hedgehog
Although she won’t know what it means, never, ever tell your date Erin that she is “looking quite erinaceous this evening.”
firman
n. – in Turkey and some other Oriental countries, a decree or mandate issued by the sovereign
gabelle
n. – a tax on salt
halfpace
n. – a platform of a staircase where the stair turns back in exactly the reverse direction of the lower flight
impignorate
v. – to pawn or mortgage something
NOT: v. – to impregnate a pig
jentacular
adj. – pertaining to breakfast
kakorrhaphiophobia
n. – fear of failure
This is the last word that someone with kakorrhaphiophobia would want to encounter in a spelling bee.
lamprophony
n. – loudness and clarity of enunciation
macrosmatic
adj. – having a good sense of smell
nudiustertian
n. – the day before yesterday
NOT: n. – a martian nudist
oxter
n. – outdated word meaning “armpit”
NOT: n. – a creature that is half ox, half otter
pauciloquent
adj. – uttering few words; brief in speech
If you had to figure out how to use this word in context, you probably wouldn’t say much either.
quire
n. – two dozen sheets of paper
ratoon
n. – small shoot growing from the root of a plant
NOT: n. – the offspring of interbreeding rats and raccoons
salopettes
n. – high-waisted skiing pants with shoulder straps
tittynope
n. – a small quantity of something left over
Undoubtedly the biggest eyebrow-raiser on this list!
ulotrichous
adj. – having wooly or crispy hair
First time you’ve heard this word? It’s probably a good indication that you don’t have wooly or crispy hair. Or that you do, and nobody uses this word anymore.
valetudinarian
n. – a sickly or weak person, especially one who is constantly and morbidly concerned with his or her health
Think – “the valedictorian of hypochondriacs”
winklepicker
n. – style of shoe or boot in the 1950s with a sharp and long pointed toe
A close second to “tittynope” in the eyebrow-raiser category
xertz
v. – to gulp down quickly and greedily
yarborough
n. – hand of cards containing no card above a nine
zoanthropy
n. – delusion of a person who believes himself changed into an animal
When you’re learning English, it’s a great idea to always work on your vocabulary and acquire new and interesting vocabulary everyday. Here in this article, let’s take a look at 12 weird English words and you’ll have to try to guess first what they mean before we give you the correct meaning and example usage!
1. Spoonerism
It means:
a. An intentional or unintentional error in speech wherein sounds are switched between two words.
b. Cuddling with a loved one in a very affectionate way.
c. The way parents coddle their children beyond adulthood.
d. A culture of mendicancy or what happens when a group of people rely too much on government dole-outs.
Click to see the correct answer
Spoonerism (SPOO-nuh-riz-em) is a word named after seemingly absent-minded English educator and clergyman William Archibald Spooner who was prone to mixing up his syllables and ended up sounding unintentionally humorous.
To date, spoonerisms are either slips of the tongue or sometimes used as intentional play on words for comedic effect.
Here are some examples of spoonerisms:
- fart smeller (smart feller)
- queer old dean (dear old queen)
- belly jeans (jelly beans)
Now let’s use spoonerism in an example conversation:
Bob: “Shucking fit!”
Karen: “Do you always use spoonerisms when you swear?”
Bob: “Yeah, all the tamn dime.”
a. The bark of an aging tree.
b. A type of dog breed popular in Ireland.
c. Nonsense.
d. A kind of waffle made from wheat and flax seeds. Usually eaten in the midwest.
Click to see the correct answer
Yep, flapdoodle [flapˌdo͞odl] is just nonsense or someone who is prone to writing or saying nonsense. The word has been used as early as the 1800s and still appears in contemporary speech!
Here’s an example usage of the word:
The speech he gave is nothing but a bunch of flapdoodle. That guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about!
a. To confuse someone
b. A type of children’s play
c. A lemony drink popularized by enterprising school kids
d. To stumble into a touristy site by mistake
Click to see the correct answer
When you bamboozle [bamˈbo͞ozəl] someone, you trick or confound that person. This quirky-sounding word has recently found a resurgence in online memes, so watch out for that.
Here’s an example usage of the word:
I woke up from a long nap and my cousin bamboozled me into thinking that I had been on a coma for a month!
4. Kerfuffle
A kerfuffle is a…
a. Breakfast food made from yoghurt
b. A commotion or fuss due to a conflict
c. An old-fashioned lady’s hat
d. The side of the mountain that is often not hit directly by sunlight
Click to see the correct answer
A kerfuffle [kər-ˈfə-fəl] happens when there’s a disturbance caused by opposing views.
Example conversation using kerfuffle:
Sam:Did you see what the kerfuffle was all about?
Andy: I have no idea. I slipped away as soon as it all started.
5. Rakehell
A rakehell is…
a. an immoral person
b. A nobody
c. A large amount of falling leaves during autumn season
d. A party attended by teenagers when their parents are out of town
Click to see the correct answer
A rakehell [RAYK-hel] is an immoral person.
This word appeared in the English language as early as the 1500s but it is still being used to this day. Let’s check out an example sentence.
The person accused of the crime is a notorious rakehell. It’s no wonder to his neighbors what trouble he got himself in.
6. Scaramouch
A scaramouch means….
a. Thunderbolts and lightning
b. Something very, very frightening
c. A boastful coward, buffoon, or rascal
d. A radio station
Click to see the correct answer
A scaramouch (or scaramouche) is from the Italian word scaramuccia, a clown character of the commedia dell’arte (comic theatrical arts of Italian literature).
Pronounced as [SKAR/SKER-uh-moosh/mooch/mouch], it is used in the English language to mean a boastful buffoon. It also became quite popular due to the Queen song, Bohemian Rhapsody.
Example sentence:
This election season is fun in the sense that we see a parade of scaramouches begging for votes everyday.
7. Shenanigans
a. A gang of wild kids
b. Transactions between two lawyers
c. The end part of the pier where birds and fishes meet
d. Mischievous or questionable activities
Click to see the correct answer
The word shenanigans [SHəˈnanəɡənz] is quite fun to say, right? But it could mean something silly and mischievous such as activities of young children or it could also mean something serious like unscrupulous or dishonest actions by adults.
Here’s an example sentence.
“I see a lot of mud trails on the floor. I wonder what shenanigans these children are up to now?”
8. Teetotal
a. Total abstinence from alcoholic beverages
b. To fall
c. A broken glass or vase
d. A car damage
Click to see the correct answer
Teetotal [tēˌtōdl] is another fun word to say, but its meaning is hardly fun! (now hand me that glass of wine, please!)
Here’s an example sentence:
“I’m choosing a teetotal lifestyle from now on. No more daiquiris for brunch or wine in the evenings.”
9. Hoodwink
a. To wink with droopy, heavy-lidded eyes
b. The back of a car in some small vehicles
c. To deceive someone
d. A person who is fun to be around
Click to see the correct answer
Hoodwink [ho͝odˌwiNGk] is a weird word indeed. It has got nothing to do with either a hood or a wink. Instead, it’s all about outwitting or fooling someone. Here’s an example sentence:
“That crook truly hoodwinked us all and made us believe he is a millionaire! He ended up getting our life savings!”
10. Bloodnoun
Which one is the correct meaning of a bloodnoun?
a. A bullfrog
b. A frightening dream
c. A witch’s spell
d. Words exchanged between lovers and promised on a full moon
Click to see the correct answer
A bloodnoun [BLUHD-naun] probably isn’t what you think it means, right? Turns out it’s just a heavy-bodied frog with a deep croak!
Here’s an example conversation:
«What’s that weird noise?”
“Don’t worry, it’s just the bloodnoun looking for a mate.”
11. Hullabaloo
a. A commotion, a fuss
b. A type of hippo common in parts of the US
c. A style of cape used by women
d. Sad language used in poetry
Click to see the correct answer
A hullabaloo [hələbəˌlo͞o] is somewhat similar to a word we mentioned previously, kerfuffle. It’s a commotion or a fuss.
Example:
I made a small comment on Facebook and suddenly it blew up out of proportion. I don’t understand what the hullabaloo on my opinion was all about!
12. Booboisie
a. An unfiltered noise
b. A sharp, sudden outcry
c. A class of ignorant, uncultured people
d. A group of baboons
Click to see the correct answer
From the word boob (a stupid person) and the French term bourgeoisie, booboisie [(boo-bwa-ZEE] refers to stupid or generally unrefined people when regarded as a class. Its use started in the 1920s and it is attributed to journalist and critic H. L. Mencken.
Example:
The artist’s profound idea apparently went way above the minds of the booboisie who are too uncultured to accept such sophisticated thoughts.
Conclusion
How many words were you able to guess correctly? Do share with us in the comments what you think! If you also have other favorite weird English words not on this list, let us know in the comments, too!
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English is a wonderful language with some of the strangest pronunciation rules and words that come from many other languages. This is a list of 20 weird English words.
1. Erinaceous
Like a hedgehog
2. Lamprophony
Loudness and clarity of voice
3. Depone
To testify under oath
4. Finnimbrun
A trinket or knick-knack
5. floccinaucinihilipilification
Estimation that something is valueless. Proper pronunciation based on Latin roots: flock?-nows?-n?k?l?-p?l?-f?k-ation.
6. Inaniloquent
Pertaining to idle talk
7. Limerance
An attempt at a scientific study into the nature of romantic love.
8. Mesonoxian
Pertaining to midnight
9. Mungo
A dumpster diver – one who extracts valuable things from trash
10. Nihilarian
A person who deals with things lacking importance (pronounce the ‘h’ like a ‘k’).
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11. Nudiustertian
The day before yesterday
12. Phenakism
Deception or trickery
13. Pronk
A weak or foolish person
14. Pulveratricious
Covered with dust
15. Rastaquouere
A social climber
16. Scopperloit
Rude or rough play
17. Selcouth
Unfamiliar, rare, strange, marvelous, wonderful. For example: The List Universe is such a selcouth website!
18. Tyrotoxism
To be poisoned by cheese
19. Widdiful
Someone who deserves to be hanged
20. Zabernism
The abuse of military power or authority. I wonder how long it will take for this one to show up in the comments.