Best english word in the world

Are you a logophile (a lover of words)? Do you hoard words? Are you a word nerd? Do you believe in epeolatry (the worship of words)? Then you’re in the right place. This list of unusual and beautiful words with deep meanings will not only enrich your vocabulary but also allow you to perceive the world differently.

Words are powerful. They have a way of transforming people and their lives. Words inspire, stir, challenge, move, touch, and intrigue us.

Did you know there’s a word that has no one meaning? It’s Eglaf. It can be used in place of any other word and describes many things.

I’ve compiled a list of unusual words with beautiful meanings that stir my mind and soul. Apart from my favorite beautiful English words, the list has foreign words with beautiful meanings that I learned during my years of travels to different countries. Most of them are simply untranslatable into English but perfectly translate hard-to-be-expressed-in-words emotions.

Read More: 100 Unique and Creative Travel Words with Beautiful Meanings

Want to add mellifluous, invigorating, heartfelt, and the most beautiful words in the world to your vocabulary? Arm yourself with these unique words in different languages and thank me later 🙂 Let’s get going with these prettiest words!

#1 Mellifluous (adj.)

Pronunciation: muh-li-floo-uhs

Origin: Latin

Definition: A sound that’s pleasing and sweet to hear

#2 Apricity (n.)

Pronunciation: a-PRIS-i-tee

Origin: Latin

Definition: The warmth of the sun in winter

#3 Rakuyou (n.)

Pronunciation: ra-ku-yo

Origin: Japanese (落葉 )

Definition: Golden fallen or shedded leaves

Now that we are talking about our favorite season (Autumn), how can we not talk about the beautiful East Coast Fall Destinations? Nothing is more autumnal than going for a stroll with crisp golden fallen or shredded leaves beneath your feet!

#4 Retrouvailles (n.)

Pronunciation: ruh-troov-eye

Origin: French

Definition: The happiness of meeting again after a long time

#5 Hitoritabi (n.)

Origin: Japanese

Definition: Traveling alone, solitary journey

#6 Luftmensch (n.)

Pronunciation: LOOFT-mensh

Origin: Yiddish

Definition: An impractical dreamer, literally an air person, someone with her head in the clouds

#7 Raconteur (n.)

Pronunciation: ra-kawn-tuh

Origin: French

Definition: A talented storyteller who’s able to spin amusing tales from everyday tales; A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way

#8 Sirimiri (n.)

Pronunciation: si-ri-mi-ri

Origin: Spanish

Definition: A light rain; A fine drizzle; Stronger than mist but less than a shower

#9 Rimjhim (n.)

Pronunciation: rim-jhim

Origin: Sanskrit

Definition: The pitter-patter of a light drizzle

#10 Petrichor (n.)

Pronunciation: PET-ri-kuhr

Origin: Greek

Definition: The mild and pleasant smell or scent of earth associated with the first rain after a dry spell

Suggested Read: 14 Beautiful Norwegian Words We Need in English Now!

#11 Morii (n.)

Pronunciation:

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Definition: The desire to capture a fleeting moment

#12 Fernweh (n.)

Pronunciation: FEIRN-veyh

Origin: German

Definition: An ache for distant places; A strong desire to travel to far off places; Being homesick for a place you’ve never been; A longing for unseen places even stronger than wanderlust

Read More: Travel Quotes to Inspire Wanderlust

#13 Resfeber (n.)

Pronunciation: RACE-fay-ber

Origin: Swedish

Definition: The restless race of the traveler’s heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together; A travel fever that can manifest as an illness

Related Read: Beautiful Swedish Words

#14 Nefelibata (n.)

Pronunciation: ne-fe-lE-‘ba-ta

Origin: Portuguese

Definition: Literally translates to “cloud-walker”; Colloquially “daydreamer”; One who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams; One who does not obey the conventions of society, literature, or art.

#15 Smultronställe (n.)

Pronunciation: “smUl-tron-‘stel-e

Origin: Swedish

Definition: Literally “place of wild strawberries” a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; A personal idyll free from stress or sadness.

#16 Dustsceawung (n.)

Pronunciation: ‘dUst-shA-a-wung (DOOST-shay-ah-wung)

Origin: Old English

Definition: Literally “contemplation of the dust”; Reflection on former civilizations and people, and on the knowledge that all things will turn to dust

#17 Heliophilia (n.)

Pronunciation: hE-lE-O-‘fil-E-a

Origin: English

Definition: Desire to stay in the sun; Love of sunlight

#18 Nakakapagpabagabag (adj.)

Pronunciation: na-ka-ka-PAG-pa-ba-ga-bag

Origin: Tagalog (Filipino)

Definition: Worrisome

PS: It’s hard to pronounce for the native speakers too so don’t worry if you can’t 🙂 Such a variety of pretty words in other languages.

#19 Brontide (n.)

Pronunciation: bron-tahyd

Origin: Greek

Definition: The low rumble of distant thunder

#20 Aesthete (n.)

Pronunciation: “es-THEt (ess-THEET)

Origin: Greek

Definition: Someone who cultivates an unusually high sensitivity to beauty, as in art or nature

#21 Sophrosyne (n.)

Pronunciation: sō-fros′i-nē (suh-FROS-uh-nee)

Origin: Greek

Definition: Soundness of mind, characterized by moderation, self-control, and prudence

#22 Elysian (adj.)

Pronunciation: uh-li-zee-uhn

Origin: Greek
Definition: Beautiful or creative; Divinely inspired; Peaceful and perfect

#23 Mångata (n.)

Pronunciation: moon-gah-ta

Origin: Swedish

Definition: The glimmering roadlike reflection of the moon on the water

#24 Koi no yokan (n.)

Pronunciation: koy-noh-yo-kin

Origin: Japanese

Definition: Literally translates to “premonition of love”; The extraordinary sense one has upon first meeting someone that they will one day fall in love

#25 Abditory (n.)

Origin: Latin

Definition: A place into which you can disappear; A hiding place

#26 Flawsome (adj.)

Pronunciation: flaw-suhm

Origin: coined by the supermodel, Tyra Banks in their show ANTM (America’s Next Top Model)

Definition: an individual who embraces their quirks and flaws and knows they are awesome regardless

#27 Datsuzoku (n.)

Pronunciation: thatza-zoku

Origin: Japanese

Definition: An escape from your everyday routine

#28 Rame (adj.)

Pronunciation: raim
Origin: Balinese

Definition: Something that’s both chaotic and joyful at the same time

#29 Vacilando (v.)

Origin: Spanish

Definition: To wander or travel with the knowledge that the journey is more important than the destination

#30 Lehitkalev (v.)

Origin: Hebrew

Definition: Literally “to dog it”; To put up with a lower standard of uncomfortable conditions of living or travel

#31 Komorebi (n.)

Pronunciation: KOH-MOH-REHB-i

Origin: Japanese

Definition: The effect of sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees; The interplay of the aesthetics between the light and the leaves when sunlight shines through trees

#32 Metanoia (n.)

Pronunciation: meh-tah-NOY-ah

Origin: Greek

Definition: The journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self, or way of life; Spiritual conversation

#33 Peregrinate (v.)

Pronunciation: PAIR-uh-gruh-nayt

Origin: Latin

Definition: To travel or wander from place to place

#34 Perambulate (v.)

Pronunciation: puh-ram-byoo-leit

Origin: Latin

Definition: to walk or travel through or around a place or area, especially for pleasure and in a leisurely way

#35 Peripatetic (n.)

Pronunciation: peh-ruh-puh-teh-tuhk

Origin: Greek

Definition: One who walks about; A nomad; An itinerant

#36 Shinrin-yoku (n.)

Pronunciation: shindin-yoku

Origin: Japanese

Definition: To go deep into the woods for its restorative benefits; The Japanese way of forest bathing as nature therapy for peace of mind, restful sleep, and physical health

#37 Shinrabansho (n.)

Pronunciation: shi-nra-banshoo

Origin: Japanese

Definition: Literally translates to “All nature”; everything that exists in the universe

#38 Flâneur (n.)

Pronunciation: flah-neur

Origin: French

Definition: Someone who saunters or ambles around aimlessly but enjoyably observing life and his surroundings

#39 Gadabout (n.)

Pronunciation: gad-uh-bout

Origin: Middle English

Definition: A person who travels often or to many different places, especially for pleasure

#40 Hiraeth (n.)

Pronunciation: heer-eye-th

Origin: Welsh

Definition: A homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; The nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past

#41 Toska (n.)

Pronunciation: tuh-skah

Origin: Russian

Definition: The ache of the soul; Longing with nothing to long for

#42 Dépaysement (n.)

Pronunciation: depeizmɑ̃

Origin: French

Definition: Change of scene, disorientation, culture shock; Feeling that comes from being away from your own home country, in a foreign land, surrounded by strangers; The sense of being a fish out of water

#43 Dès vu (n.)

Origin: French

Definition: Literally translates to ” seen as soon as”; The awareness that this will become a memory

#44 Rasāsvāda (n.)

Pronunciation: ra-sas-vah-da

Origin: Sanskrit

Definition: Literally translates to appreciating the taste and flavor of juice; Perception of pleasure; The taste of bliss in the absence of all thoughts

#45 Cynefin (n.)

Pronunciation: ku-nev-in

Origin: Welsh

Definition: Literally translates to “habitat”; A place or the time when we instinctively belong or feel most connected; The artist Kyffin Williams described it as a relationship: the place of your birth and of your upbringing, the environment in which you live and to which you are naturally acclimatized

#46 Safarnama (n.)

Pronunciation: su-fur-nama

Origin: Persian

Definition: Travelogue; An account of the travels

We have a safarnama. Do you?

#47 Saudade (n.)

Pronunciation: ‘sau-“da-dE

Origin: Portuguese

Definition: “the love that remains” even after someone is gone; a nostalgic or melancholic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant, or that has been loved and then lost

#48 Yūgen (n.)

Pronunciation: yoo-gehn

Origin: Japanese

Definition: A profound and mysterious sense of the beauty and awareness of the universe that triggers a deep emotional response

#49 Wabi-Sabi (n.)

Pronunciation: wah-bee-sah-bee

Origin: Japanese

Definition: A Japanese concept and art of imperfect beauty; The discovery of beauty within the imperfections of life and art; the acceptance of the cycle of life and death

#50 Ukiyo (n.)

Pronunciation: u-key-yo

Origin: Japanese

Definition: Literally translates to “the floating world”; Living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life

#51 Ikigai (n.)

Pronunciation: ee-kee-guy

Origin: Japanese

Definition: A Japanese concept literally translates to “a reason for being”; ‘a reason to get up in the morning’, to enjoy the meaning of life – passion, purpose, something one lives for

#52 Apprivoise (adj.)

Pronunciation: ap-privoise

Origin: French

Definition: Literally translates to “to tame”; To form a bond with one another; to become known to each other through small moments

We are half-way through these best words. Are you also loving these beautiful foreign words?

#53 Wu wei (n.)

Pronunciation: woo-wey

Origin: Chinese

Definition: A Chinese concept and art of conscious non-action; literally translates to “inexertion”, “inaction”, or “effortless action”, or “action without action”; To embrace the flow instead of an effort to achieve a result; A deliberate and principled decision to do nothing for a reason

#54 Còsagach (n.)

Pronunciation: coze-a-goch

Origin: Scottish Gaelic

Definition: Scottish hygge; A feeling of being snug, sheltered, and warm, inspired by fluffy rugs, cozy fires, outdoor hot tubs, and wood-burning stoves; Finding comfort in life’s simple pleasures

#55 Lagom (adv.)

Pronunciation: la-gum

Origin: Swedish

Definition: Translates to “in moderation”, “in balance”, “perfectly-simple”, “just enough”, and “suitable”; The Swedish concept of having just the right amount; not too much, not too little, just right

#56 Gigil (n.)

Pronunciation: GHEE-gheel

Origin: Filipino

Definition: The overwhelming urge to squeeze or pinch something that’s irresistibly cute and adorable

#57 Ataraxia (n.)

Pronunciation: at-uh-rak-see-uh

Origin: Greek

Definition: A state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety; Tranquility or untroubled mind

#58 Musafir (n.)

Pronunciation: musa-fir

Origin: Arabic

Definition: Traveler

Here’s a list of amazing places to visit around the world for a traveler (Musafir) in you!

#59 Wayfarer (n.)

Pronunciation: wey-fair-er

Origin: English

Definition: Someone who travels, especially on foot

#60 Absquatulate (v.)

Pronunciation: ab-skwoch-uh-leyt

Origin: North American English

Definition: To leave without saying goodbye; Leave abruptly

#61 Wanderlust (n.)

Pronunciation: won-der-luhst

Origin: German

Definition: A strong, innate desire to travel and explore the world

Suggested Read: 40 Inspiring Quotes about Family Travel

#62 Utepils (n.)

Pronunciation: OOH-ta-pilz

Origin: Norwegian

Definition: Literally translates to “outdoors lager”; To sit outside enjoying a beer on a sunny day

Fancy a beer outside? What’s better than enjoying one under the Midnight Sun in the Finnish Lapland?

#63 Ballagàrraidh (n.)

Pronunciation: bal-la-ga-rye

Origin: coined by The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows inspired by the Scottish Gaelic word – balla gàrraidh

Definition: Literally translates to the “garden wall”; The awareness that you are not at home in the wilderness

#64 Acatalepsy (n.)

Pronunciation: ey-kat-l-ep-see

Origin: Greek

Definition: The impossibility of comprehending the universe; The incomprehensibility of things; The belief that human knowledge can never have true certainty

#65 Waldeinsamkeit (n.)

Pronunciation: VALD-eye-n-zam-kite

Origin: German

Definition: Forest solitude; The feeling of being alone in the woods

#66 Cockaigne (n.)

Pronunciation: kaw-KAYN

Origin: French

Definition: Literally translates to “the land of plenty”; An imaginary or a fabled land of luxury and idleness

#67 Sonder (v.)

Pronunciation: sohn-dehrr

Origin: coined by John Koeing of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows inspired by German and French word – sonder

Definition: The realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own

#68 Boketto (v.)

Pronunciation: bo-ke-tto

Origin: Japanese

Definition: The act of gazing vacantly into the distance without a thought

#69 Sprachgefühl (n.)

Pronunciation: SHPRAHKH-guh-fuel

Origin: German

Definition: The character and spirit of a language; An intuitive sense of the rule and rhythm of language

#70 Solivagant (n.)

Pronunciation: “sO-li-‘vA-gant

Origin: Latin

Definition: A solitary wanderer; Someone who wanders alone

#71 Sehnsucht (n.)

Pronunciation: zEn-‘zUkt

Origin: German

Definition: A wistful longing or indescribable yearning in the heart for we know not what

#72 Serendipity (n.)

Pronunciation: seh-ruhn-DI-puh-tee

Origin: English

Definition: To find something good without looking for it; To discover something beautiful by chance or accidentally

#73 Mudita (n.)

Pronunciation: Muw-DIY-Taa

Origin: Sanskrit

Definition: Literally translates to “pure joy”; Sympathetic, vicarious joy; Taking delight in the happiness, success, and well-being of others

#74 Tsundoku (n.)

Pronunciation: tsoon-DOH-koo

Origin: Japanese

Definition: The art of buying books and leaving them unread, often piled together with other unread books; Book hoarding

#75 Voorpret (n.)

Pronunciation: VOR – pret 

Origin: Dutch

Definition: Pre-fun; The sense of enjoyment felt before party or event takes place; joy or pleasure ahead and in anticipation of the actual fun event

#76 Meraki (v.)

Pronunciation: may-rah-kee

Origin: Greek

Definition: To do something with soul, creativity, or love; to leave a piece and essence of yourself in your work

#77 Hanyauku (v.)

Pronunciation: ha-ahn-yoh-kuu

Origin: Kwangali (Namibia)

Definition: To walk on tiptoes across hot sand

#78 Jazba (n.)

Pronunciation: jaẕ-bā

Origin: Arabic

Definition: Strong desire or passion or emotion or sentiment

#79 Drapetomania (n.)

Pronunciation: drap-et-O-mAn-E-a

Origin: Greek

Definition: An overwhelming urge to run away

#80 Querencia (n.)

Pronunciation: kweeuh-ruhn-see-uh 

Origin: Spanish

Definition: A place where you are your most authentic self; A place from which your strength of character is drawn, where you feel safe, where you feel at home

#81 Quaquaversal (adj.)

Pronunciation: kwey-kwuh-VUR-suh l

Origin: Latin

Definition: Moving or happening in every direction instantaneously towards a center

#82 Heimweh (n.)

Pronunciation: heim·veyh

Origin: German

Definition: Homesickness; Longing for home; Nostalgia

#83 Heimat (n.)

Pronunciation: hai-mat

Origin: German

Definition: A place that you can call home; A sense of belongingness, acceptance, safety, and connection to the homeland.

#84 Dérive (n.)

Pronunciation: dih-rih-vee

Origin: French

Definition: Literally translates to “drift”; A spontaneous and unplanned journey where the traveler leaves their life behind for a time to let the spirit of landscape and architecture attract and move them

Does this ever happen to you? I felt that drift when I visited the Vis island in Croatia.

#85 Photophile (n.)

Pronunciation: pho-to-phile

Origin: English

Definition: Derived from the biological term “photophilic” for an organism that thrives in full light, it means a person who loves photography and light

#86 Ecophobia (n.)

Pronunciation: ih-ko-foh-bee-uh

Origin: English

Definition: A fear or dislike of one’s home

#87 Numinous (adj.)

Pronunciation: ‘nU-mi-nus

Origin: Latin

Definition: Literally translates to “divinity”; Describing an experience (mostly spiritual) that makes you fearful yet fascinated, awed yet attracted – the powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired

#88 Schwellenangst (n.)

Pronunciation: ‘shwel-en-ahngst

Origin: German

Definition: Fear of crossing a threshold to begin a new chapter; Fear of new things

#89 Strikhedonia (n.)

Pronunciation: “strik-he-‘dOn-E-a

Origin: Greek

Definition: The pleasure of being able to say “to hell with it”

#90 Vagary (n.)

Pronunciation: vuh-gair-ee, vey-guh-ree

Origin: Latin

Definition: An unpredictable instance, a wandering journey; A whimsical, wild, unusual idea, desire, or action

#91 Livsnjutare (n.)

Pronunciation: lives-noo-tuhreh

Origin: Swedish

Definition: Literally meaning, “enjoyer of life”, This describes someone who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme

#92 Commuovere (v.)

Pronunciation: com-muò-ve-re

Origin: Italian

Definition: To stir, to touch, to move to tears; To be moved in a heartwarming way, usually relating to a story that moved you to tears

#93 Abendrot (n.)

Pronunctaion: A-bend-rot  

Origin: German

Definition: Literally translates to “evening red”; The color of the sky while the sun is setting

#94 Serein (n.)

Pronunciation: suh-RAN

Origin: French

Definition: The fine, light rain that falls from a clear sky in the twilight hours after sunset or in the early hours of the night; Evening serenity

Read More: Sunset Quotes and Sunset Captions for Instagram

#95 Erlebnisse (n.)

Pronunciation: Ar-‘lEb-nis-e (ayr-LEEB-nis-eh)

Origin: German

Definition: The experiences, positive or negative, that we feel most deeply, and through which we truly live; Not mere experiences, but EXPERIENCES

#96 Astrophile (n.)

Pronunciation: as-trophile

Origin: English

Definition: A person who loves stars

Are you Astrophile? Then, you must take this epic stargazing road trip in Colorado!

#97 Psithurism (n.)

Pronunciation: sith-your-ism

Origin: English

Definition: The sound of the leaves rustling as the wind blows through the trees

#98 Trouvaille (n.)

Pronunciation: trU-‘vI

Origin: French

Definition: A chance encounter with something wonderful

#99 Hygge (n.)

Pronunciation: hue-guh

Origin: Danish

Definition: The warm feeling you get while enjoying the company of great friends and all life has to offer

Discover and experience the Danish concept of Hygge in Copenhagen! Hey, and also take a look at the beautiful Danish words!

#100 Onism (n.)

Origin: Danish

Definition: The awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience; The frustration of being stuck in just one body that inhabits only one place at a time

#101 Rückkehrunruhe (n.)

Pronuciation: rück·keh·run·ru·he, Rukeerenruhee

The feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows defines – the feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness—to the extent you have to keep reminding yourself that it happened at all, even though it felt so vivid just days ago—which makes you wish you could smoothly cross-dissolve back into everyday life, or just hold the shutter open indefinitely and let one scene become superimposed on the next, so all your days would run together and you’d never have to call cut.

#102 Vemödalen (n.)

Pronunciation: ve·mö·da·len

Origin: Swedish

Definition: The fear that everything has already been done

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows defines – The frustration of photographing something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist—the same sunset, same waterfall, same curve of a hip, same closeup of an eye—which can turn a unique subject into something hollow and pulpy and cheap, like a mass-produced piece of furniture you happen to have assembled yourself.

#103 Kopfkino (n.)

Pronunciation: kopf·ki·no

Origin: German

Definition: Literally translates to “head cinema”; It’s the act of playing out an entire scenario in your mind

#104 Quaintrelle (n.)

Pronunciation: quAn-‘trel

Origin: Middle English

Definition: A woman who emphasizes a life of passion expressed through personal style, leisurely pastimes, charm, and cultivation of life’s pleasures

#105 Pulchritudinous (adj.)

Pronunciation: pul-kruh-TOO-di-nuhs

Origin: English

Definition: Beyond beautiful; A person of breathtaking, heartbreaking beauty

#106 Yoko meshi (n.)

Pronunciation: yoh–koh mesh-ee

Origin: Japanese

Definition: Literally translates to “a meal eaten sideways”; It’s a beautiful and untranslatable word that describes the stress of speaking a foreign language.

#107 Selcouth (adj.)

Pronunciation: sel′ko̅o̅th′

Origin: Old English

Definition: Unfamiliar, rare, and strange, yet marvelous and wondrous; The way we feel the sense of wonder and amazement when we see and experience something new and unusual whilst traveling

The selcouth beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park left us awestruck!

#108 Monachopsis (n.)

Pronunciation: mona-chop-sis, MON-a-Cop-sis

Origin: Greek

Definition: The subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place, not fitting in

#109 Eudaimonia (n.)

Pronunciation: U-de-‘mOn-E

Origin: Greek

Definition: Literally translates to “human flourishing;” A contented state of being happy, healthy, and prosperous; The way we feel while traveling

#110 Natsukashii (adj.)

Pronunciation: nats-ka-‘shE, nahtzkah-SHEE

Origin: Japanese (懐かしい )

Definition: Feeling nostalgic; Bringing back happy memories of the past

#111 Coddiwomple (v.)

Pronunciation: KAHD-ee-wahm-puhl

Origin: English slang

Definition: To travel purposefully towards an unknown or vague destination

#112 Novaturient (adj.)

Pronunciation: nuh-vuh-nyoo-tree-uhnt

Origin: Latin

Definition: Desiring or seeking powerful change in one’s life, behavior, or a certain situation

#113 Eleutheromania (n.)

Pronunciation: el-U-“ther-O-‘mAn-E-a

Origin: Greek

Definition: An intense and irresistible desire for freedom

#114 Eunoia (n.)

Pronunciation: yoo-noy-iea

Origin: Greek

Definition: Beautiful thinking; A well mind

Out of the beautiful words in English, Did you know Eunoia is the shortest English word containing all five main vowel graphemes?

#115 Sturmfrei (adj.)

Pronuciation: stirm-fra

Origin: Germany

Definition: Literally translates to “storm-free”; the freedom of being alone and being able to do what your heart desires

#116 Nemophilist (n.)

Pronunciation: ne-‘mo-fe-list

Origin: Greek

Definition: One who loves the beauty and solitude of forest; a haunter of the woods

Do you identify yourself as a Nemophilist? You must then plan a trip to one of the best national parks in the world.

#117 Halcyon (adj.)

Pronunciation: hal-see-uhn

Origin: Greek

Definition: A period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful

#118 Thalassophile (n.)

Pronunciation: thal-uh-suh-fīl

Origin: Greek

Definition: A lover of the sea or ocean

You aren’t a thalassophile if you haven’t visited Greece, Croatia, and Sri Lanka 🙂

#119 Fika (n.)Pronunciation: fee-ka

Origin: Swedish

Definition: Almost like a ritual in Swedish culture, it’s sharing a cup coffee (or tea) and cake with friends or colleagues

#120 Ogooglebar (adj.)

Pronunciation:

Origin: Swedish

Definition: Ungoogleable, someone or something that doesn’t show up in Google search results

#121 Gluggaveður (n.)

Pronunciation: glook-ah-vay-ther

Origin: Icelandic

Definition: Literally translates to “window-weather,” the type of weather that is best appreciated indoors

#122 Arbejdsglæde (n.)

Pronunciation: ah-bites-gleh-the

Origin: Danish

Definition: Literally translates to “happiness at work,” when your work is a source of joy and happiness

#123 Vorfreude (n.)

Pronunciation: vor-freude

Origin: German

Definition: The joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures

#124 Brumous (adj.)

Pronunciation: bru·mous

Origin: Literary English

Definition: Of gray skies and winter days, filled with heavy clouds or fog

Craving cozy feel of a brumous day (no pun intended)? Head to one of the best winter destinations in the USA. Europe on mind? No problem. We even have a list of the best winter destinations in Europe for you.

#125 Hodophile (adj.)

Pronunciation: how-doh-phile

Origin: Greek

Definition: The one who loves to travel; A traveler with a special affinity for roads

You Might Like: The Ultimate List of Road Quotes for Road Trippers

#126 Ubuntu (n.)

Pronunciation: oo-buhn-too

Origin: Nguni, South African

Definition: Literally translates to “humanity”; It’s the belief that we all are defined by our compassion and humanity towards others

#127 Nunchi (n.)

Pronunciation: noon-chee

Origin: Korean

Definition: Literally translates to “eye-measure”; It’s a subtle art and ability to listen and gauge others’ moods and react appropriately

#128 Arcane (adj.)

Pronunciation: aa-kein

Origin: Latin

Definition: Secret, Mysterious, Understood by few

#129 Kaulayaw (n.)

Pronunciation: kauli-haw

Origin: Filipino or Tagalog

Definition: Intimate or close companion or friend

#130 Kos (n.)

Pronunciation: coosh

Origin: Norwegian

Definition: Danish hygge; coziness; all things warm and cozy; it can simply mean enjoying a cup of coffee with a freshly baked cinnamon bun or having a good time with family and friends or reading a good book or snuggling in a blanket while it’s snowing outside or anything that makes you feel purely happy.

Goes without saying, Norway is the best place to discover and experience the Norwegian Hygge.

#131 Ebullience (n.)

Pronunciation: uh·buh·lee·uhns

Origin: Latin

Definition: The quality of being bubbly, enthusiastic, and exuberant

#132 Goya (n.)

Pronunciation: go-yaa

Origin: Urdu (گویا)

Definition: As if; A momentary suspension of disbelief that occurs when fantasy is so realistic that it temporarily becomes reality, usually associated with a story very well told; a story that feels like reality

#133 Camhanaich (n.)

Pronunciation: kav’-an-ach

Origin: Scots-Gaelic

Definition: Early morning twilight; the half-light of dawn or dusk

Read More: The Best Sunrise Quotes and Sunrise Captions for Instagram

#134 Kawaakari (n.)

Pronunciation: ka-wa-a-ka-rE

Origin: Japanese

Definition: The glow of a river or stream in darkness or dusk, the gleaming surface of a shadowed river

#135 Mysa (n.)

Pronunciation: MEE-sah

Origin: Swedish, Icelandic

Definition: The feeling of comfort and protection; a time dedicated to coziness

#136 Ineffable (adj.)
Pronunciation: uh-NEH-fuh-bl
Origin: Late Middle English
Definition: Incapable of being expressed in words

#137 Nefarious (adj.)
Pronunciation: nuh-FEUH-ree-uhs
Origin: Latin
Definition: Wicked, Despicable, Villainous, Evil, Sinful

#138 Somnambulist (n.)
Pronunciation: som-nam-byuh-list

Origin: French
Definition: A sleepwalker, a person who walks around while they are asleep

#139 Akrasia (n.)
Pronunciation: uh-KRAY-zhuh
Origin: Greek
Definition: Lack of self-control or the state of acting against one’s better judgment

#140 Zephyr (n.)
Pronunciation: ZEH-fuh
Origin: Old English
Definition: A breeze from the west; a gentle breeze

#141 Hanan (n.)

Pronunciation: hana-n

Origin: Arabic

Definition: Compassion and Kindness

#142 Szerelem (n.)

Pronunciation: sze -re -lem

Origin: Hungarian

Definition: Romantic love

#143 Revontulet (n.)

Pronunciation:  Re-von-tu-let

Origin: Finnish

Definition: Literally translates to Fox Fires; Aurora Borealis; Northern Lights

#144 Yötön yö (n.)

Pronunciation: Yoton-yo

Origin: Finnish

Definition: Nightless night; Midnight Sun

The summer in Finland is magical. The sun doesn’t go down at all in the northern region of Finland. It’s when you can see the magical Yötön yö.

#145 Elvágyódás (n.)

Pronunciation: El-vagyo-dash

Origin: Hungarian

Definition: The desire to get away from where you currently are; Aching for what is far away

#146 Sonrisa (n.)

Pronunciation: Sohn-ree-sah

Origin: Spanish

Definition: Smile

#147 Weltschmerz (n.)

Pronuciation: velt-shmerts

Origin: German

Definition: Literally translates to translates to “world weariness” or “world pain”; It’s a melancholic feeling that comes from the realization that the material world can’t ever comfort the emotional and mental desires

#148 Sadiq (n.)

Pronunciation: Saa-duhk

Origin: Arabic

Definition: Friend; Companion; True; Faithful; Veracious; Sincere; Honest; Loyal

#149 Forelsket (adj.)

Pronunciation: for-el-skit

Origin: Danish

Definition: Being madly in love – an ineffable euphoria experienced when one’s enamored with someone

#150 Ruhaniyat (n.)

Pronunciation: Ruu-haa-niyat

Origin: Arabic

Definition: Soulfulness; Spiritualism

#151 Sarang (n.)

Pronunciation: sa-rang

Origin: Korean

Definition: Love

I’m sure with so many new words added to your vocabulary, it’d be a cinch to describe your emotions, your life, or just you. Over to you now. Which one of these words do you identify with the most? Would you like to add your favorite word to the list? Share with us in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this post. If yes, would you please share it with the world.

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While languages like Portuguese and French are known for their romantic words and aesthetically pleasing phrases, there’s a lot to say about the beauty of the English language. After all, English has brought us stunning, showstopper words such as incandescent and euphoria, mellifluous and demure. So if you’re feeling inclined to increase your vocabulary while making it as easy on the ears as possible, then you’re in for a serendipitous treat. For 60 of the most beautiful words in the English language, which are guaranteed to make you absolutely ebullient, read on. And for more words to share with your friends, check out The 30 Funniest Words in the English Language—And How to Use Them.

1. Labyrinth

Do you ever find yourself working on a tedious task with many twists and turns? If you’re stuck doing something that’s extremely complex, you can call it a labyrinth. Additionally, any maze or place with «intricate passageways» can be described by this word.

2. Ineffable

Sometimes, almost every word fails. When that happens, you can turn to the word «ineffable,» which means «unspeakable» or «indescribable.» For example, if your feelings about someone are almost impossible to accurately pin down, you can say they’re ineffable.

3. Incendiary

Meaning extremely hot or inflammatory, anything that causes a fire is incendiary. However, when used in contexts that aren’t related to fire, this word can also describe someone who likes to start quarrels.

4. Ephemeral

Things that don’t last forever are ephemeral. From conversations to arguments, some things just tend to be short-lived, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

5. Cynosure

Back in the 17th century, the word cynosure was used to describe the northern constellation, Ursa Minor. And while this is still the case now, Merriam-Webster additionally notes that anyone who is the «center of attention» or «serves to guide» is cynosure.

6. Propinquity

Similar to the term proximity, the word «propinquity» is another way to talk about someone who lives near you. Aside from your next-door neighbors and roommates, it can also refer to «nearness of relation,» in terms of kinship.

7. Infatuation

Do you have a really strong desire to be near or know more about someone, you may have an infatuation. You can also use the term to describe your non-human obsession of the moment, whether it’s a TV show or your new puppy.

8. Incandescent

While the word «incandescent» is one way to talk about the electric lamps in your living room, it can also be used in reference to the brightness or someone’s intellect or personality.

9. Eudaemonia

Originated from the Greek word «eudaimon,» the word «eudaemonia» means the state of being lucky or happy. If you’re in a state of general well-being or feeling great joy, this is one way to express it.

10. Raconteur

Are you good at telling a story? Then you can start telling your friends that you’re a raconteur. Even if you’re not the best storyteller, it’s still a fun word to say.

11. Petrichor

The Greek words for «stone» and the «ethereal blood of the gods» combine to give us a perfectly beautiful term for the way the earth smells after it rains. Scientists have spent decades trying to determine exactly why that smell is so pleasing; in fact, two are credited for coining «petrichor» in a 1964 Nature article.

12. Sumptuous

Meaning «extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent,» the word «sumptuous» can be used to describe anything from a five-star vacation to your favorite fluffy blanket.

13. Angst

If you’ve woken up with a prevailing sense of anxiety about how the day will go, you could say you’re experiencing some angst. It’s not a pleasant feeling, but the word for it, which dates back to the eighth century, does have a certain soothing sound.

14. Aesthete

An aesthete, according to Merriam-Webster, is «one having or affecting sensitivity to the beautiful especially in art.» You might be one if you’re frequently moved by sculptures and paintings…or if you pretend to be for the sake of other people. Either way, the word is a joy to say.

15. Nadir

An astronomical term that’s been co-opted for colloquial usage, nadir means the lowest point, as in the «nadir of her popularity.» Its opposite term, zenith, has a similar appeal.

16. Miraculous

That which seemed impossible or at least incredibly unlikely without the influence of some supernatural force can be described as «miraculous.» Maybe that’s the birth of a child or being able to carry on a morning conversation before a cup of coffee.

17. Lassitude

Suffering from a lack of energy? Describe your tiredness—whether it’s in your body, your mind, or both—with this term, and at least it will sound prettier.

18. Gossamer

One of several definitions of this word, per Dictionary.com, is «a fine, filmy cobweb seen on grass or bushes or floating in the air in calm weather, especially in autumn.» It’s thought to have come from the Middle English term gosesummer, «possibly first used as name for late, mild autumn, a time when goose was a favorite dish.» But it can also be used to refer to anything thin and airy, from a summer shawl to the wings of a butterfly.

19. Bungalow

Bungalow is a cozy word for a specific type of house: usually one that’s either a single story or two stories with a sloping roof. Though there may be additional criteria depending on where in the world you’re using the term.

20. Scintilla

Not to be confused with those furry crepuscular rodents, scintilla means a spark or a trace of something. Perhaps you feel a scintilla of guilt after eating the last cookie, or experience a scintilla of attraction to someone you just met.

21. Aurora

Originally the name of the Roman goddess of sunrise, the word aurora is now used to describe the dawn, as well as the stunning luminous phenomenon that takes place in the upper atmosphere of a planet’s magnetic polar regions. For example, you may have a trip to see the Aurora Borealis as an item on your bucket list.

22. Inure

Not all beautiful words have beautiful meanings. The word inure means to accept or grow accustomed to something undesirable. For example, your family’s constant criticism could inure you to toxic behavior from loved ones.

23. Mellifluous

This lyrical word refers to something that is sweet and enjoyable, especially when it comes to sound. You might find the early spring sounds of chirping birds to be quite mellifluous.

24. Euphoria

Derived from the Greek word for healthy, the word euphoria is now used to describe an intense feeling of happiness or elation. A sense of euphoria may be the result of a fortunate turn of events or an indescribable personal high.

25. Serendipity

You’ve probably experienced this phenomenon more than you realize—remember that time you went on a coffee run and stumbled upon the best chocolate cake your city has to offer? Or when you were cleaning your home and found those earrings you thought were gone years ago? Those happy coincidences are all cases of serendipity.

26. Cherish

The word cherish means to hold dear or cultivate with care and affection. Whether that’s your family, your home, or your most prized possession (or all three!), everyone has someone or something that they cherish.

27. Demure

One of our favorite beautiful words, demure is used to describe any modest and reserved behavior. Etymologists believe it may have been derived from the Anglo-French verb demorer or demourer, which means «to linger.»

28. Elixir

If you’re well-versed in the world of Harry Potter, you probably associate this word with the elixir of life derived from the Sorcerer’s Stone. In the 17th century, alchemists believed it was possible to create an elixir that would turn base metals to stone and allow people to live forever. Today, the word is used to identify a substance that’s capable of changing base metals into gold. You might also use it to describe that cocktail you just whipped up at your home bar.

29. Eternity

Forever; always; a limitless time. These are just some ways to describe the endless and sometimes frightening idea of eternity.

30. Felicity

This one’s just another word for a state of happiness. For example, you might find yourself in a state of felicity the next time you’re surrounded by people you love.

31. Languor

Another beautiful word with a not-so-beautiful definition, languor refers to lethargy or weakness in body and mind. You might experience this phenomenon when you’ve been working too many hours and are starting to hit burnout. All that means is it’s time to use that PTO!

32. Love

There’s way more than one definition for this feeling, action, phenomenon (etc, etc). But we can all agree that the word love is as beautiful as everything it describes.

33. Solitude

If you’re an extrovert, then solitude may not be ideal. But if you’re an introvert, you’ll probably enjoy and seek out solitude, or the act of being alone and away from society.

34. Epiphany

While there are several meanings of this word, most people associate an epiphany with a life-changing realization. You’ll find examples of these in your favorite books and movies, such as the classic scene in Clueless when Cher realizes she’s «majorly, totally, butt-crazy in love» with her stepbrother Josh.

35. Quintessential

Have you ever met someone who embodies all of the characteristics of the city they’re from or the career path they’ve chosen? Then you might have come across someone who is perfectly typical, otherwise known as quintessential. Snacking on strawberries and cream while sipping a Pimm’s Cup at Wimbledon? That’s so quintessentially British!

36. Plethora

This word has two definitions—one beautiful and one not so beautiful. While plethora is most commonly associated with having an abundance of something (close your eyes and picture a plethora of disposable income!), it’s also a medical word that’s used to describe increased blood in a specific area.

37. Nemesis

As beautifully as this word rolls off of the tongue, it is associated with a rival or arch-enemy and can be used to describe inflicting an act of vengeance. That friend-of-a-friend who grinds your gears every time he comes to Friday night drinks? He might be your nemesis.

38. Lithe

One syllable and full of grace, the word lithe is used to characterize flexibility and a slim figure. For example, you may have noticed the lithe ballerinas when you attended a performance of The Nutcracker at Christmastime.

39. Tranquility

Hopefully, you’ll achieve a state of tranquility on your next beach vacation. This is just another word for being free from agitation of mind or spirit.

40. Elegance

Another word that sounds exactly the way it’s defined, elegance is a quality of style and grace.

41. Renaissance

Whether you’re referring to your own personal revival in life or the transitional period between the 14th and 17th centuries, the word renaissance will roll off the tongue and fulfill all of your aesthetically pleasing linguistic needs.

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42. Eloquence

A quality found in the most skillful politicians, this word refers to persuasive expressiveness. Look out for eloquence in the 2020 presidential debates—which candidate’s eloquence will win your vote?

43. Sequoia

These larger than life trees can be found throughout California, particularly in their namesake national park in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Having a hard time differentiating between a sequoia and a redwood (or the Sequoia National Park and the Redwood National and State Parks)? Here’s an easy way to differentiate: if you’re on the coast, then you’re probably looking up at a redwood; if you’re inland, then you’ve definitely found yourself in the presence of a sequoia.

44. Peace

Ever versatile, the word peace can refer to a state of mind, freedom from civil disturbances, or a time without war.

45. Lullaby

There isn’t a better word to describe a soothing melody to get your child to sleep. But this word isn’t reserved for babies—it can also be used as a verb meaning to quiet with or as with a lullaby.

46. Paradox

The beginning of the end. Youth is wasted on the young. These are both examples of paradox, or a statement that seemingly contradicts itself.

47. Pristine

This beautiful word seems to sparkle—and that’s fitting, since pristine means «fresh and clean or as if new.»

48. Effervescent

Here’s a clever new way to describe the bubbly can-do person around your office. Instead of merely calling them fun to be around, you could take things up a notch and say they have an effervescent personality. That simply means they have an appealingly lively quality.

49. Opulence

Do you dream of owning a mansion in Beverly Hills with a Maserati in the driveway and regular shopping trips on Rodeo Drive? Then you might be pining for a life of opulence. Keep on grinding!

50. Ethereal

This light and airy word might remind you of celestial bodies. Ethereal can refer to the upper regions of space as well as anything that is heavenly and unworldly seeming.

51. Sanguine

A complicated and beautiful word, sanguine comes with several meanings. It’s typically used as a synonym for optimism, but it can also describe a blood-red hue or something relating to blood.

52. Panacea

Panacea means all-healing in Greek and, fittingly, Panacea was the Greek goddess of healing. Today, the word is used to refer to something that could fix everything. Imagine a remedy for all of the problems you face on a daily basis—that would be a panacea.

53. Bodacious

While this word is often used to describe a body’s curves, bodacious can also be used to describe something that is remarkable or admirable. For example, a person might have a bodacious energy or a home might have bodacious decor.

54. Axiom

An axiom is a statement that is widely accepted as true. For example, from the Declaration of Independence—»we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.» These «truths» could also be described as axioms.

55. Silhouette

Depending on the situation, seeing a silhouette—or the outline of a figure—may be beautiful or spooky. For example, seeing the silhouette of a young couple on a park bench is lovely, but if you see a shadowy silhouette in a house you thought was empty, then you might want to run away.

56. Surreptitious

This word means to act clandestinely or to do or acquire something by stealth. For example, that person at your job who always seems to be working on a secret project might be considered surreptitious.

57. Ingenue

You’ll find examples of this word in classic literature, film, and television. Naive and innocent female characters such as Sandy at the start of Grease and Ophelia from Hamlet are examples of ingenues.

58. Dulcet

This dainty word is another one that seems to describe exactly what it sounds like—which is anything that is generally pleasing. For example, you may have recently listened to particularly dulcet music or indulged in a dulcet chocolate cake.

59. Tryst

This crisp word is usually used to describe a somewhat discreet meeting between two lovers. While technically defined as any sort of meeting or appointment (not necessarily with romantic motivations), you probably don’t want to refer to the next meeting at your office as a «tryst».

60. Ebullience

A beautiful word that’s probably best used to describe a litter of golden retriever puppies, ebullience is the quality of excitement and enthusiasm.

And for how English is used in different regions of the U.S., here are 60 Words People Pronounce Differently Across America.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Studies that estimate and rank the most common words in English examine texts written in English. Perhaps the most comprehensive such analysis is one that was conducted against the Oxford English Corpus (OEC), a massive text corpus that is written in the English language.

In total, the texts in the Oxford English Corpus contain more than 2 billion words.^[1] The OEC includes a wide variety of writing samples, such as literary works, novels, academic journals, newspapers, magazines, Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, blogs, chat logs, and emails.^[2]

Another English corpus that has been used to study word frequency is the Brown Corpus, which was compiled by researchers at Brown University in the 1960s. The researchers published their analysis of the Brown Corpus in 1967. Their findings were similar, but not identical, to the findings of the OEC analysis.

According to The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists, the first 25 words in the OEC make up about one-third of all printed material in English, and the first 100 words make up about half of all written English.^[3] According to a study cited by Robert McCrum in The Story of English, all of the first hundred of the most common words in English are of Old English origin,^[4] except for «people», ultimately from Latin «populus», and «because», in part from Latin «causa».

Some lists of common words distinguish between word forms, while others rank all forms of a word as a single lexeme (the form of the word as it would appear in a dictionary). For example, the lexeme be (as in to be) comprises all its conjugations (is, was, am, are, were, etc.), and contractions of those conjugations.^[5] These top 100 lemmas listed below account for 50% of all the words in the Oxford English Corpus.^[1]

100 most common words

A list of 100 words that occur most frequently in written English is given below, based on an analysis of the Oxford English Corpus (a collection of texts in the English language, comprising over 2 billion words).^[1] A part of speech is provided for most of the words, but part-of-speech categories vary between analyses, and not all possibilities are listed. For example, «I» may be a pronoun or a Roman numeral; «to» may be a preposition or an infinitive marker; «time» may be a noun or a verb. Also, a single spelling can represent more than one root word. For example, «singer» may be a form of either «sing» or «singe». Different corpora may treat such difference differently.

The number of distinct senses that are listed in Wiktionary is shown in the polysemy column. For example, «out» can refer to an escape, a removal from play in baseball, or any of 36 other concepts. On average, each word in the list has 15.38 senses. The sense count does not include the use of terms in phrasal verbs such as «put out» (as in «inconvenienced») and other multiword expressions such as the interjection «get out!», where the word «out» does not have an individual meaning.^[6] As an example, «out» occurs in at least 560 phrasal verbs^[7] and appears in nearly 1700 multiword expressions.^[8]

The table also includes frequencies from other corpora. Note that as well as usage differences, lemmatisation may differ from corpus to corpus – for example splitting the prepositional use of «to» from the use as a particle. Also the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) list includes dispersion as well as frequency to calculate rank.

Word	Parts of speech	OEC rank	COCA rank[9]	Dolch level	Polysemy
the	Article	1	1	Pre-primer	12
be	Verb	2	2	Primer	21
to	Preposition	3	7, 9	Pre-primer	17
of	Preposition	4	4	Grade 1	12
and	Conjunction	5	3	Pre-primer	16
a	Article	6	5	Pre-primer	20
in	Preposition	7	6, 128, 3038	Pre-primer	23
that	Conjunction et al.	8	12, 27, 903	Primer	17
have	Verb	9	8	Primer	25
I	Pronoun	10	11	Pre-primer	7
it	Pronoun	11	10	Pre-primer	18
for	Preposition	12	13, 2339	Pre-primer	19
not	Adverb et al.	13	28, 2929	Pre-primer	5
on	Preposition	14	17, 155	Primer	43
with	Preposition	15	16	Primer	11
he	Pronoun	16	15	Primer	7
as	Adverb, conjunction, et al.	17	33, 49, 129	Grade 1	17
you	Pronoun	18	14	Pre-primer	9
do	Verb, noun	19	18	Primer	38
at	Preposition	20	22	Primer	14
this	Determiner, adverb, noun	21	20, 4665	Primer	9
but	Preposition, adverb, conjunction	22	23, 1715	Primer	17
his	Possessive pronoun	23	25, 1887	Grade 1	6
by	Preposition	24	30, 1190	Grade 1	19
from	Preposition	25	26	Grade 1	4
they	Pronoun	26	21	Primer	6
we	Pronoun	27	24	Pre-primer	6
say	Verb et al.	28	19	Primer	17
her	Possessive pronoun	29, 106	42	Grade 1	3
she	Pronoun	30	31	Primer	7
or	Conjunction	31	32	Grade 2	11
an	Article	32	(a)	Grade 1	6
will	Verb, noun	33	48, 1506	Primer	16
my	Possessive pronoun	34	44	Pre-primer	5
one	Noun, adjective, et al.	35	51, 104, 839	Pre-primer	24
all	Adjective	36	43, 222	Primer	15
would	Verb	37	41	Grade 2	13
there	Adverb, pronoun, et al.	38	53, 116	Primer	14
their	Possessive pronoun	39	36	Grade 2	2
what	Pronoun, adverb, et al.	40	34	Primer	19
so	Conjunction, adverb, et al.	41	55, 196	Primer	18
up	Adverb, preposition, et al.	42	50, 456	Pre-primer	50
out	Preposition	43	64, 149	Primer	38
if	Conjunction	44	40	Grade 3	9
about	Preposition, adverb, et al.	45	46, 179	Grade 3	18
who	Pronoun, noun	46	38	Primer	5
get	Verb	47	39	Primer	37
which	Pronoun	48	58	Grade 2	7
go	Verb, noun	49	35	Pre-primer	54
me	Pronoun	50	61	Pre-primer	10
when	Adverb	51	57, 136	Grade 1	11
make	Verb, noun	52	45	Grade 2 [as «made»]	48
can	Verb, noun	53	37, 2973	Pre-primer	18
like	Preposition, verb	54	74, 208, 1123, 1684, 2702	Primer	26
time	Noun	55	52	Dolch list of 95 nouns	14
no	Determiner, adverb	56	93, 699, 916, 1111, 4555	Primer	10
just	Adjective	57	66, 1823		14
him	Pronoun	58	68		5
know	Verb, noun	59	47		13
take	Verb, noun	60	63		66
people	Noun	61	62		9
into	Preposition	62	65		10
year	Noun	63	54		7
your	Possessive pronoun	64	69		4
good	Adjective	65	110, 2280		32
some	Determiner, pronoun	66	60		10
could	Verb	67	71		6
them	Pronoun	68	59		3
see	Verb	69	67		25
other	Adjective, pronoun	70	75, 715, 2355		12
than	Conjunction, preposition	71	73, 712		4
then	Adverb	72	77		10
now	Preposition	73	72, 1906		13
look	Verb	74	85, 604		17
only	Adverb	75	101, 329		11
come	Verb	76	70		20
its	Possessive pronoun	77	78		2
over	Preposition	78	124, 182		19
think	Verb	79	56		10
also	Adverb	80	87		2
back	Noun, adverb	81	108, 323, 1877		36
after	Preposition	82	120, 260		14
use	Verb, noun	83	92, 429		17
two	Noun	84	80		6
how	Adverb	85	76		11
our	Possessive pronoun	86	79		3
work	Verb, noun	87	117, 199		28
first	Adjective	88	86, 2064		10
well	Adverb	89	100, 644		30
way	Noun, adverb	90	84, 4090		16
even	Adjective	91	107, 484		23
new	Adjective et al.	92	88		18
want	Verb	93	83		10
because	Conjunction	94	89, 509		7
any	Pronoun	95	109, 4720		4
these	Pronoun	96	82		2
give	Verb	97	98		19
day	Noun	98	90		9
most	Adverb	99	144, 187		12
us	Pronoun	100	113		6

Parts of speech

The following is a very similar list, subdivided by part of speech.^[1] The list labeled «Others» includes pronouns, possessives, articles, modal verbs, adverbs, and conjunctions.

Rank	Nouns	Verbs	Adjectives	Prepositions	Others
1	time	be	good	to	the
2	person	have	new	of	and
3	year	do	first	in	a
4	way	say	last	for	that
5	day	get	long	on	I
6	thing	make	great	with	it
7	man	go	little	at	not
8	world	know	own	by	he
9	life	take	other	from	as
10	hand	see	old	up	you
11	part	come	right	about	this
12	child	think	big	into	but
13	eye	look	high	over	his
14	woman	want	different	after	they
15	place	give	small		her
16	work	use	large		she
17	week	find	next		or
18	case	tell	early		an
19	point	ask	young		will
20	government	work	important		my
21	company	seem	few		one
22	number	feel	public		all
23	group	try	bad		would
24	problem	leave	same		there
25	fact	call	able		their

See also

• Basic English
• Frequency analysis, the study of the frequency of letters or groups of letters
• Letter frequencies
• Oxford English Corpus
• Swadesh list, a compilation of basic concepts for the purpose of historical-comparative linguistics
• Zipf’s law, a theory stating that the frequency of any word is inversely proportional to its rank in a frequency table

Word lists

• Dolch Word List, a list of frequently used English words
• General Service List
• Word lists by frequency

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Updated on 21 Jan 2023

35 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The English Language

Entirely eloquent, and yet utterly ineffable.

I asked Twitter for their favorite words from the English language. Here are some of the most beautiful suggestions, along with some of my own (including a handful of non-English ones that were too good to leave out)…

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And finally, a word that embiggens the soul:

Friendly reminder for the ~purists~ – all words were made up at some point.

Plus, many words that are used in English were borrowed from other languages. But they still count as being part of the English language!

If your favorite word isn’t listed, add it below so others can enjoy it!