Language lets us communicate with each other and share our ideas. Some linguists even suggest that language shapes our knowledge and thought. So, expanding our vocabulary by learning new, interesting words can help us communicate better and have more ideas.
The average English speaking knows around 12,000 -25,000 words, yet the Oxford English Dictionary contains full entries for 171,476 words in current use. So, most of us are missing out on knowing, using, and enjoying thousands of interesting words.
Some linguists suggest that if we don’t have a word for a certain, it is almost impossible to understand that concept. Linguist Benjamin Lee Whorf was an early proponent of this idea, suggesting different linguistic systems affected the thoughts and behaviour of language users.
He studied the language of the Brazilian Piraha people and found that they have no word for quantity. In their language, there is just a word for one, and a word for more than one. This meant that they did not understand the concept of quantity in the same way that we do.
So, if specific words can help us to understand concepts and broaden our knowledge and understanding of the world, it is worth spending some time learning some new, and interesting words.
Here are 15 interesting words to get you started on the journey to crafting a more varied and effective vocabulary.
1. Logophile
I am assuming that as you are reading this article, you may be something of a logophile or ‘lover of words’. Logophile comes from the Greek ‘logos’ meaning speech and ‘phile’ meaning lover or friend.
2. Quixotic
This interesting word is derived from the lead character in Don Quixote written by Miguel de Cervantes. In the novel, Quixote decides to become a knight in order to defend the helpless and destroy the wicked.
Because of this character, we call someone Quixotic if they are unrealistically optimistic or have a comically chivalrous approach to life.
Interestingly, the word scrooge was coined in the same way, a scrooge being a mean person and coming from the character Scrooge in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
3. Liminal
Liminal means on the edge of things or between things. It describes marshy landscapes that are neither really land or sea. However, it can also be used to describe states of consciousness. Dreams often occur in the liminal state between sleeping and waking.
4. Esoteric
The word esoteric is used to describe special knowledge that is available only to a select group of people. Belief systems that rely on secret information and practices are often described as esoteric.
Examples of esoteric doctrines include Masonic Lodges, the Theosophical Society, and the Eleusinian mysteries.
5. Numinous
Numinous is a delightful word that means spiritual or supernatural. The word can be applied to anything that is mysterious or surpasses our human understanding.
6. Epistemology
Epistemology is the study of knowledge. This branch of philosophy is specifically concerned with the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge. So, I guess it really describes the process of thinking about thinking.
7. Schadenfreude
Though schadenfreude is a lovely sounding word, feeling it is not something to be proud of. Schadenfreude means experiencing pleasure or satisfaction from the trouble, failure or humiliation of others.
8. Loquacious
Most of us know someone who is a little loquacious. They talk – a lot! Unfortunately, most of the things they talk about are interesting only to them. This makes them the worst person to get stuck with at a dinner party.
9. Hubris
Hubris is a concept that originated in ancient Greece and today describes excessive presumption, exaggerated pride or self-confidence – even arrogance. It’s a shame that such a nice word describes such a horrible personality trait.
10. Bibliophile
A Bibliophile is a lover of books. The word comes from the Greek biblion ‘book’ + philos ‘lover or friend’. Bibliophiles have a particular interest in beautiful or rare books and many also collect antiques and first editions.
11. Eurhythmic
Eurhythmic means having an aesthetically pleasing rhythm or structure. So, I guess that’s what makes it the perfect name for a band.
12. Fugacious
Fugacious means fleeting or transient. It is similar to the even more attractive ephemeral, which means lasting a very short time.
Many things in life are beautiful but fleeting, the life of a mayfly, the moment the sun goes down on a glorious summer’s day, or the brief time a rainbow decorates the sky. Perhaps it is their fugacious nature that makes these moments so special.
13. Elysian
If something is elysian, it is blissful or delightful. The word comes from the Greek “Elysian field,” where the heroic and the virtuous go after death. So, I suppose it is similar to heavenly.
14. Metanoia
Metanoia describes a profound, usually spiritual, transformation. This unusual word perfectly describes the process of changing one’s mind, heart, spiritual direction, or way of life in a radical way.
This seems like a good word to use instead of the overused ‘enlightened’ or ‘spiritual awakening‘.
15. Lollygag
Lollygag is my favorite new interesting word. It means to spend time in an aimless or lazy way, to idle about or goof off. So, I guess lollygagging is the perfect way to spend an afternoon.
So that’s enough interesting words for today. I am off to spend the afternoon lollygagging.
We’d love to hear your favourite interesting words. Please share them with us in the comments.
References:
- www.collinsdictionary
- www.oed.com
- Author
- Recent Posts
Contributing writer at Learning Mind
Kirstie Pursey holds a diploma in creative writing from the Open University and works as a writer, blogger, and storyteller. She lives in London with her family of people, dogs, and cats. She is a lover of reading, writing, being in nature, fairy lights, candles, fireside, and afternoon tea.
Copyright © 2012-2023 Learning Mind. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint, contact us.
By
Last updated:
March 26, 2022
The English language is very much alive and growing, with more new words added to the dictionary every year. Today, we’re going to learn 25 brand-new English words that native speakers use all the time.
But before we get to that list, you may be wondering where new English words come from, and some quick tips to master them in the shortest time possible.
Contents
- Where Do New Words Come From?
- The Quickest Ways to Master New English Vocabulary
- Trendy English Words Worth Learning in 2022
-
- 1. To Chillax
- 2. Whatevs
- 3. Freegan
- 4. Hellacious
- 5. Awesomesauce
- 6. Cringe
- 7. Stan / To Stan
- 8. Sober-curious
- 9. B-day
- 10. Beardo
- 11. Sriracha
- 12. Ghost
- 13. EVOO
- 14. Manspread
- 15. Facepalm
- 16. Froyo
- 17. Hangry
- 18. Photobomb
- 19. Binge Watch
- 20. Fitspiration
- 21. Mansplain
- 22. Glamping
- 23. Side-eye
- 24. Fast Fashion
- 25. Staycation
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Where Do New Words Come From?
Every year, hundreds of new words are added to the English dictionary. Of course, not all new words make it into the dictionary. The ones that do are those that have been used frequently in a wide range of contexts and are found to be useful to English communication.
New English words may come from foreign words that have been adapted into the English language over time. For instance, if you love spicy food, you’ll be pleased to know that the word sriracha (a spicy chili and garlic sauce invented in Thailand) has been added to the dictionary.
Some new words are actually old words that have been given new or additional meanings. For example, ghost is no longer a word you only use around Halloween time, to refer to a spirit. It now has an additional meaning, which we’ll show you in our list below.
New slang words aren’t just old words used in new ways. New words may also be formed from the blending or shortening of certain words or phrases. For instance, a key ingredient in Italian cuisine is extra virgin olive oil—it’s a real tongue twister, but thankfully, it’s now been shortened to simply EVOO as you’ll see soon.
Or you can learn more about this right now, if you want a learn 12 of the twenty-five trendy words below via video.
The Quickest Ways to Master New English Vocabulary
- Make your own personal dictionary: One of the most effective ways to master English vocabulary is to create your own dictionary of words that are most important or difficult for you. Write down a list of new words you wish to learn and make notes about their meanings and usages.
Mastering new vocabulary takes time and practice, so be sure to keep your personal dictionary with you to reference and refresh your memory whenever you need to. This will help prevent you from forgetting words easily.
- Watch authentic English-language media. Watching, reading, or listening to authentic English-language content is a fantastic way to learn the words and phrases native speakers use every day in context.
Thankfully, there are many platforms with subtitled videos for you to choose from. FluentU, for example, is a language learning app and website based on authentic English-language videos. Each video has interactive subtitles that you can click on for example sentences, pronunciation, and more, which could help you expand your vocabulary and learn words in context.
- Talk to people: Another way to master new vocabulary is to use the words in real English conversations. The more you repeat the word, the more fluent you’ll become at using it. By talking to native English speakers, you’ll also pick up new vocabulary from them. Now that’s a bonus!
Here are some great tips to find English speaking partners no matter where you currently live.
Trendy English Words Worth Learning in 2022
1. To Chillax
If you blend (mix) the words chill (relaxed) and relax, you get the verb to chillax.
This word has become more and more common on the internet over the past couple of years, and it simply means to relax, to become calm or to take it easy.
Although people use it almost with the same meaning as to relax, I find chillax has more of a sarcastic meaning, as in “wow, calm down, this isn’t so serious, you’re overreacting.”
No matter the meaning it can have for different people, remember that this word is used in slang, so don’t go telling your boss or your teacher to chillax!
Hey man, just chillax! It’s just a horror movie, not the end of the world!
2. Whatevs
Whatevs is an informal word that means whatever.
I’ve normally seen it used in sentences in which the speaker wants to express irony and show they don’t care about what’s happening or being said.
You’ll normally see whatevs as a standalone interjection or at the end of sentences:
“I don’t love you anymore.”
“Whatevs… Bye!”
She didn’t give me the lipstick back, but whatevs.
3. Freegan
Freegans and freeganism have been popular for years, but it’s only recently that we’ve gotten a word to describe who and what they are.
Simply put, a freegan is a person who tries to buy a little as possible, uses discarded things and/or (especially) food, and recycles everything they can. They’re environmentally conscious and friendly, and they do their best to reduce waste.
Although this is a positive thing for the Earth, some people take it to the extreme. It’s because of this that the words freegan and freeganism are normally surrounded by negative connotations (associations, suggestions).
He became a freegan five years ago and hasn’t bought food ever since.
4. Hellacious
This word is a mix of the word hell and the suffix -cious, which is quite common in English (delicious, conscious, audacious, tenacious, etc.).
Hellacious can have different meanings, but it is normally used as an adjective meaning astonishing, remarkable or very difficult.
This word is obviously slang, so use it only in the appropriate contexts!
He got a hellacious amount of hate from his last post.
They got a hellacious time trying to leave the country in one piece.
5. Awesomesauce
Put together the words awesome and sauce and you will get awesomesauce, which basically has the same meaning as awesome with a pinch of even more awesomeness.
This slang word can be used in any informal situation, and it works like a normal adjective:
I’m reading an awesomesauce book about the influence of slang words in the English language. How am I doing?
6. Cringe
Have you ever heard someone say something so embarrassing you even felt sorry for them?
Have you been present in a situation where someone was acting so awkwardly (strangely, embarrassingly, gracelessly) that you wished you were not there?
If so, then you were cringing big time!
To cringe means to feel embarrassed and ashamed about what someone is doing or saying. You can even cringe at yourself, but let’s be honest here, we normally cringe at other people.
His mum was dancing with his best friend and he couldn’t help but cringe.
I cringe every time I read her lovey-dovey comments.
In more recent times, you can even use cringe instead of the adjective cringy to describe something that makes you cringe:
That outfit is so cringe.
7. Stan / To Stan
Stan can be used as a noun to describe a person and as a verb to describe an action.
A stan is a person who idolizes, loves to the point of obsession or is an overzealous (very devoted and loyal) celebrity fan.
To stan means to idolize, love obsessively or be an overzealous fan of a celebrity.
The slang word comes from the 2000 Eminem song titled “Stan,” which is about an obsessive fan whose love for a celebrity… well, let’s just say that it doesn’t end well.
Recently, this word has become much more common, and it can now be used in any context or situation where you want to say you love someone or something.
OMG (Oh My God)! I stan those clothes, Jenni!
I stan Katy. She’s my role model.
Sometimes, you might even see someone (usually online) say “we stan,” showing collective support (that is, support from everyone in the community).
8. Sober-curious
This word is wonderful in a terrible sort of way. You could even say it makes you cringe.
Sober-curious can be used to describe a person who questions their drinking habits or wants to try to change them because of health or mental reasons.
I’ve only seen it used in very specific contexts and always related to drinking habits and alcoholism, so hopefully, you won’t have to use it very often.
He’s sober-curious and wants to try to not drink for one week.
9. B-day
B-day is just an informal shortened version of the word birthday. You can see it written on social media quite a lot, especially when wishing someone a happy birthday:
Happy b-day, John! Hope you have an awesome one!
The way to pronounce this word is BEE-dey.
10. Beardo
A beardo is a person with a beard. Simple.
However, as often happens with other words like weirdo (an odd or eccentric person) it can have a pejorative (negative and unkind) meaning, especially if you put those two words together: weirdo beardo.
A weirdo beardo is a person with a beard who doesn’t have the best hygiene habits and is socially odd and awkward:
That weirdo beardo really needs a haircut!
11. Sriracha
If you love spicy food, you’ve probably heard of sriracha. It’s a Thai-inspired sauce made from a blend of hot chili peppers, garlic and spices that’s commonly used in cooking or as a dipping sauce.
Sriracha really adds a kick to your hamburger, but be sure you have a glass of water nearby!
12. Ghost
The meaning of the word ghost (when used as a noun) that most of us are familiar with is the spirit of a dead person, like the kind we often see appearing and disappearing in movies. Now the word ghost has a new, informal meaning that has to do with disappearing.
Used as a verb, to ghost means to suddenly cut off contact completely with someone (usually a romantic partner) by not answering their phone calls and text messages.
You’ll often hear it used in the past tense (ghosted)… since you don’t know you’ve been ghosted until it’s too late!
I haven’t heard from her in more than a week. She totally ghosted me.
13. EVOO
Try saying “extra virgin olive oil” a few times. This is a type of high-quality oil that makes Italian food so very delicious, and it’s quite a mouthful to say, isn’t it?
But no worries, now we can shorten it to EVOO with the first letters of those words. Ah there, isn’t that easier to say?
Remember to grab a bottle of EVOO on your way home. I’m making pasta tonight.
14. Manspread
Ever notice how some men sit with their legs so wide apart in public places that they take up more than one seat?
This behavior, commonly observed on public transportation such as trains and buses and in public waiting areas, is known as manspreading (man + spreading).
Wouldn’t it be nice if people would be more considerate about manspreading during busy times of the day?
15. Facepalm
Facepalm (you’ll also see it spelled as two words: face and palm) is a new word that describes the act of covering your face with your hand when you’re in difficult or uncomfortable situations. It’s a pretty natural thing to do when we’re feeling embarrassed, frustrated or very disappointed.
He had to facepalm when his boss pointed out typos in his report after he’d checked it three times.
16. Froyo
Here’s another new word that has to do with food: froyo. That’s right, it’s not hard to figure out that froyo is short for frozen yogurt, a cold dessert that’s similar to ice cream and a bit healthier.
On a hot day, you can call me up for a froyo any time.
17. Hangry
Have you ever been hangry? I know I have. Hangry (hungry + angry) is when you’re in a bad mood and feeling frustrated because you need to eat right now.
I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. I’m hangry and you’re not going to like me very much.
18. Photobomb
Remember the time you posed for that perfect photo (or so you thought!) only to find that someone spoiled it by appearing in view when the photo was taken?
That’s a photobomb. The unintended person is a photobomber. They could be either a random stranger just walking by, or a prankster deliberately photobombing you.
You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to avoid photobombs when we were taking pictures at the beach.
19. Binge Watch
To binge watch is to watch many episodes of a TV series one after another without stopping. The word binge by itself means to overdo something.
I spent the whole weekend binge watching the TV series “Billions” with my roommate.
20. Fitspiration
Every end of the year, we take time out to plan our goals for the new year. What can we do? Eat healthier? Work out more? Get more fit? Yes, but we need inspiration!
So we look around and, yes, we have a new word for that.
Fitspiration (fitness + inspiration) refers to the people, pictures and social media posts that inspire us to keep pushing ourselves and staying committed to our fitness goals.
I was pretty impressed that my co-worker had stuck a picture of Chris Hemsworth on his office wall for fitspiration.
21. Mansplain
Similar to manspreading, the word mansplain (man + explain) refers to how some men explain things to a woman in a condescending (superior-seeming) way that sounds like he’s either better than her or he knows more than her.
Whenever he starts mansplaining, all the women in the room roll their eyes and stop paying attention.
22. Glamping
Those who don’t fancy camping in the outdoors with no proper facilities like toilets, etc. will be happy to know that there’s now a thing called glamping.
Glamping (glamorous + camping) refers to camping that comes with all of the modern facilities that you can think of like nice bathrooms, etc.
No, I won’t go camping with you. But if it’s glamping, I’m in.
23. Side-eye
Have you ever given someone a disapproving look with sideways glances of your eyes? This is called giving someone the side-eye to show you’re annoyed and don’t approve of them or their behavior.
I had good reason to give him the side-eye. He just kept yawning in front of me with his mouth open.
24. Fast Fashion
In the ever-changing world of fashion, the term fast fashion refers to the concept of big-name designers and manufacturers such as H&M, Esprit and Levi’s introducing the latest fashion trends to stores at affordable prices.
It seems she’s on a tight budget and can’t afford anything but fast fashion.
25. Staycation
Ever taken vacation days from work and have nowhere to go? Well, if you have no travel plans, then spend your vacation at home and have a staycation (stay + vacation).
I go see the world every chance I get. So everyone was surprised that I’m having a staycation this holiday.
So there you go, a list of exciting new words in English for you to start using today. Challenge yourself to master them all as quickly as possible. Remember, practice makes perfect. Happy practicing!
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This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
These interesting words will help you sound smarter in any conversation.
You send dozens of texts and spend hours talking every single day — but you are reusing most of your words. You are repeating yourself without even realizing you are doing so. There are hundreds of interesting words that you have never even heard of before (or you might have already heard but have no idea how to use them in a sentence).
It’s time to learn something new, to broaden your vocabulary, to sound even more eloquent than you already are. If you can find a way to slip these words into everyday conversation, you are going to look like the most intelligent person in the room.
Aa — a kind of volcanic lava that forms jagged masses with a light frothy texture
Abibliophobia — afraid of running out of things to read
Aquiver — trembling
Aurora — dawn
Aplomb — self-confident
Acnestis — between the shoulder blades and the loins which an animal cannot reach to scratch
Apropos — appropriate
Atrate — dressed in black
Agelast — a person who never laughs
Agastopia — admiration of a particular part of someone else’s body
Bibliopole — a person who buys and sells books, especially rare ones
Biblioklept — a person who steals books
Bibble — eating or drinking noisily
Bloviate — people who talk for a long period of time
Balter — dance clumsily
Bedizen — dress gaudily
Bleb — a blister
Boondoggle — a waste of time and money
Burke — murder without leaving a trace on the body
Borborygm — hungry
Bombinate — making a humming or buzzing noise
Bumbershoot — an umbrella
Cattywampus — in disarray
Collywobbles — a weird feeling in your stomach
Cahoots — secret partnership
Caruncle — the triangular, pink areas at the corner of your eyes
Churlish — rude
Compotation — a drinking party
Conspuer — to spit with contempt
Comeuppance — getting what you deserve
Cancatervate — heaping things into a pile
Cabotage — the exclusive right of a country to control the air traffic within its borders
Cromulent — appearing legitimate but actually being spurious
Donnybrook — an uprising, a melee, or a riot
Darkle — becoming cloudy or dark
Defenestration — the act of throwing someone out of a window
Denouement — the resolution of a narrative
Doodle sack — bag pipes
Duffifie — laying a bottle on its side for some time so that it may be completely drained of the few drops remaining
Draconian — unusually severe
Erinaceous — resembling a hedgehog
Ethereal — Extremely delicate, light, not of this world
Egress — an exit
Ennui — bordem
Erratum — an error in printing
Epistemology — the study of knowledge
Esoteric — knowledge that is only available to a select group of people
Epoch — A particular period of time in history or a person’s life
Eurhythmic — an aesthetically pleasing rhythm or structure
Flibbertigibbet — silly and overly talkative
Foppish — foolish, silly, obsolete
Fugacious — fleeting or transient
Fillip — snapping your fingers
Gubbins — an object that has little or no value
Grawlix — a series of symbols commonly used in comics or cartoons to represent curse words
Grommet — an eyelet of firm material to strengthen or protect an opening or to insulate or protect something passed through it
Hubris — excessive presumption, exaggerated pride or self-confidence
Halfpace — a platform of a staircase where the stair turns back in exactly the reverse direction of the lower flight
Hiraeth — A homesickness for a home you can’t return to, or that never was
Impignorate — pawning something
Interrobang — a punctuation mark designed for use especially at the end of an exclamatory rhetorical question; usually written as ?!
Interfenestration — the space between two windows
Ineffable — Too great to be expressed in words
Jentacular — pertaining to breakfast
Jalopy — an old, decrepit, or unpretentious automobile
Kyphorrhinos — a nose with a bump in it
Lamprophony — loudness and clarity of enunciation
Limerence — being infatuated with another person
Logophile — lover of words
Lothario — a man whose chief interest is seducing women
Malarkey — insincere, foolish talk
Macrosmatic — having a good sense of smell
Meldrop — a drop of mucus at the nose, whether produced by cold or otherwise
Metanoia — a spiritual transformation
Meme — an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture
Nincompoop — an idiot
Nibling — the gender-neutral term for nieces or nephews
Nefarious — Wicked, villainous, despicable
Numinous — spiritual, supernatural
Nudiustertian — the day before yesterday
Oblivion — the state of being unaware of what is happening around you
Octothorpe — the hashtag symbol
Obelus — the division symbol
Oxter — armpit
Pandiculation — yawning and stretching
Pauciloquent — someone who doesn’t say much
Pilgarlic — a bald head
Phosphenes — the light and colors produced by rubbing your eyes
Petrichor — The pleasant, earthy smell after rain
Preantepenultimate — fourth from last
Paresthesia — the prickly feeling when your limb “falls asleep.”
Poobah — a powerful person.
Pogonotrophy — growing and grooming a beard or other facial hair
Rasher — a thin slice of bacon
Taradiddle — filled with pretentious nonsense
Tergiversate — to change repeatedly one’s attitude or opinions with respect to a caus
Snickersnee — a long, dangerous knife
Salopettes — high-waisted skiing pants with shoulder straps
Supine — Lying face upwards
Sonder — the realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own
Schadenfreude — experiencing pleasure or satisfaction from the trouble, failure or humiliation of others
Somnambulist — A person who sleepwalks
Serendipity — The chance occurrence of events in a beneficial way
Snellen chart — the standard eye exam chart.
Scintillate — emitting sparks
Syzygy — an alignment of celestial bodies
Tittynope — a small quantity of something left over
Ulotrichous — having wooly or crispy hair
Quire — two dozen sheets of paper
Quixotic — unrealistically optimistic
Valetudinarian — a sickly or weak person, especially one who is constantly and morbidly concerned with his or her health
Vellichor — the strange wistfulness of used bookshops
Wabbit — exhausted
Widdershins — moving counter-clockwise
Winklepicker — a shoe with a long pointed toe
Yarborough — when the dealer deals a hand without any numbers above nine
Zoanthropy — a person who has delusions that they are a form of animal 
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Today’s Word of the Day is eyesome. Learn its definition, pronunciation, etymology and more. Join over 19 million fans who boost their vocabulary every day.
What are the 10 new words?
10 new English words you should know in 2020
- Stan. Meaning: An extremely excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan (stalker-fan).
- Nomophobia. Meaning: Fear or worry at the idea of being without your phone or unable to use it.
- Peoplekind. …
- Bottle episode. …
- Carbon sink. …
- Buzzy. …
- Sober-curious. …
- Permaculture.
today Add to list Share. Use today to mean this day, right now—not yesterday, and not tomorrow. … Before the 16th century, today was two separate words, to day, and then for another three hundred years or so, it was hyphenated: to-day. But today, we simply use today.
What are the five new words?
New Words Added to English Dictionaries
- automagically adv. Automatically in a way that seems magical.
- bargainous adj. Costing less than expected.
- big media n. Primary mass communication sources, e.g., TV and the press.
- bromance n. …
- buzzkill n. …
- carbon credit n. …
- carbon offsetting n. …
- catastrophize v.
Is there a word todays?
(rare) Plural form of today.
What is current word for cool?
Dope – Cool or awesome. GOAT – “Greatest of All Time” Gucci – Good, cool, or going well. Lit – Amazing, cool, or exciting.
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What are 5 interesting words?
Let’s see which of these craziest words you already know and which ones are new to you:
- Bumfuzzle. This is a simple term that refers to being confused, perplexed, or flustered or to cause confusion. …
- Cattywampus. …
- Gardyloo. …
- Taradiddle. …
- Snickersnee. …
- Widdershins. …
- Collywobbles. …
- Gubbins.
What is a word of God?
Word of God – a manifestation of the mind and will of God. manifestation – a clear appearance, “a manifestation of great emotion” 2. Word of God – the sacred writings of the Christian religions, “he went to carry the Word to the heathen” Christian Bible, Good Book, Holy Scripture, Holy Writ, Scripture, Bible, Book, …
What are the new words?
List of 100 New English Words and Meanings
| New English Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| awe-inspiringly | So impressively, spectacularly, or formidably as to arouse or inspire awe. |
| awesomesauce | Extremely good, excellent. |
| awfulize | To class as awful or terrible |
| awfy | Terrible, dreadful, remarkable or notable. |
What word class is today?
Despite the confusion created by the various categorizations in multiple dictionaries, the words yesterday, today, and tomorrow are nouns.
What are the modern words?
25 Trendy New Words in English That Native Speakers Use All the…
- To Chillax. If you blend (mix) the words chill (relaxed) and relax, you get the verb to chillax. …
- Whatevs. Whatevs is an informal word that means whatever. …
- Freegan. …
- Hellacious. …
- Awesomesauce. …
- Cringe. …
- Stan / To Stan. …
- Sober-curious.
What is the newest Word 2020?
5 new words you shouldn’t miss in 2020
- Climate Emergency. Let’s begin our list with The Oxford Dictionary Word of The Year – climate emergency. …
- Permaculture. Permaculture is an old word that’s recently become more popular. …
- Freegan. A freegan is also a portmanteau that combines the words free and vegan. …
- Hothouse. …
- Hellacious.
What are cool words?
60+ of the Coolest, Most Epic Words in the English Language
| #1–15 | #16–30 | #31–45 |
|---|---|---|
| 3. Bizarre | 18. Flippant | 33. Onomatopoeia |
| 4. Blasphemy | 19. Gerrymandering | 34. Persnickety |
| 5. Bumblebee | 20. Hyperbolic | 35. Phosphorous |
| 6. Capricious | 21. Hypnosis | 36. Picturesque |
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CONTINUE READING BELOW
April 14, 2023
lacking life, spirit, or zest
April 13, 2023
to make or repair something with materials conveniently on hand
April 12, 2023
the area around or near a place
April 11, 2023
like an oracle in solemnity, or in having wise or divine insight
April 10, 2023
a minor flaw or shortcoming
April 09, 2023
showing or suggesting that future success is likely
April 08, 2023
to limit the size or amount of something
April 07, 2023
ambiguous or difficult to understand
April 06, 2023
a ceremonial dinner held on Passover
April 05, 2023
to divide into political units giving one group unfair advantage
Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox!
April 2023
-
Apr 01
shenanigans
-
Apr 02
démarche
-
Apr 03
infantilize
-
Apr 04
belated
-
Apr 05
gerrymander
-
Apr 06
seder
-
Apr 07
equivocal
-
Apr 08
circumscribe
-
Apr 09
auspicious
-
Apr 10
foible
-
Apr 11
oracular
-
Apr 12
vicinity
-
Apr 13
MacGyver
-
Apr 14
lackadaisical
March 2023
-
Mar 01
fresco
-
Mar 02
contretemps
-
Mar 03
accentuate
-
Mar 04
proximate
-
Mar 05
repartee
-
Mar 06
vindicate
-
Mar 07
laudable
-
Mar 08
cahoots
-
Mar 09
ingratiate
-
Mar 10
factotum
-
Mar 11
scrupulous
-
Mar 12
divulge
-
Mar 13
apotheosis
-
Mar 14
gallivant
-
Mar 15
nadir
-
Mar 16
heterodox
-
Mar 17
Erin go bragh
-
Mar 18
lacuna
-
Mar 19
tactile
-
Mar 20
kith
-
Mar 21
fawn
-
Mar 22
obdurate
-
Mar 23
symbiosis
-
Mar 24
zany
-
Mar 25
eighty-six
-
Mar 26
cavalcade
-
Mar 27
disparate
-
Mar 28
bildungsroman
-
Mar 29
immaculate
-
Mar 30
golem
-
Mar 31
recuse
February 2023
-
Feb 01
eleemosynary
-
Feb 02
portend
-
Feb 03
challah
-
Feb 04
scrutinize
-
Feb 05
weal
-
Feb 06
fraught
-
Feb 07
acquiesce
-
Feb 08
despot
-
Feb 09
vapid
-
Feb 10
ignis fatuus
-
Feb 11
besotted
-
Feb 12
gambit
-
Feb 13
magniloquent
-
Feb 14
coquetry
-
Feb 15
divest
-
Feb 16
lyrical
-
Feb 17
anachronism
-
Feb 18
impromptu
-
Feb 19
cleave
-
Feb 20
prerogative
-
Feb 21
onerous
-
Feb 22
rectify
-
Feb 23
tantamount
-
Feb 24
hiatus
-
Feb 25
nurture
-
Feb 26
foray
-
Feb 27
ersatz
-
Feb 28
stultify
January 2023
-
Jan 01
annus mirabilis
-
Jan 02
precocious
-
Jan 03
delegate
-
Jan 04
genius
-
Jan 05
fortuitous
-
Jan 06
garner
-
Jan 07
conundrum
-
Jan 08
ascetic
-
Jan 09
charlatan
-
Jan 10
teleological
-
Jan 11
bombast
-
Jan 12
luscious
-
Jan 13
countenance
-
Jan 14
recondite
-
Jan 15
névé
-
Jan 16
paladin
-
Jan 17
hoodwink
-
Jan 18
implacable
-
Jan 19
misanthrope
-
Jan 20
vulpine
-
Jan 21
exacerbate
-
Jan 22
short shrift
-
Jan 23
endemic
-
Jan 24
balkanize
-
Jan 25
marginalia
-
Jan 26
knackered
-
Jan 27
wangle
-
Jan 28
doctrinaire
-
Jan 29
rubric
-
Jan 30
adapt
-
Jan 31
savant
December 2022
-
Dec 01
sandbag
-
Dec 02
gloaming
-
Dec 03
perceptible
-
Dec 04
celerity
-
Dec 05
abdicate
-
Dec 06
solace
-
Dec 07
lachrymose
-
Dec 08
vandalize
-
Dec 09
expeditious
-
Dec 10
bravado
-
Dec 11
imbue
-
Dec 12
compadre
-
Dec 13
fiduciary
-
Dec 14
undulate
-
Dec 15
morass
-
Dec 16
putative
-
Dec 17
oblivion
-
Dec 18
ineluctable
-
Dec 19
dreidel
-
Dec 20
gainsay
-
Dec 21
accoutrement
-
Dec 22
deleterious
-
Dec 23
speculate
-
Dec 24
tortuous
-
Dec 25
nativity
-
Dec 26
halcyon
-
Dec 27
cajole
-
Dec 28
lodestar
-
Dec 29
espouse
-
Dec 30
boondoggle
-
Dec 31
retrospective
November 2022
-
Nov 01
sallow
-
Nov 02
fustigate
-
Nov 03
rapscallion
-
Nov 04
catercorner
-
Nov 05
abandon
-
Nov 06
gauche
-
Nov 07
serendipity
-
Nov 08
encapsulate
-
Nov 09
bilious
-
Nov 10
lapidary
-
Nov 11
doughty
-
Nov 12
intoxicate
-
Nov 13
crucible
-
Nov 14
magnanimous
-
Nov 15
augur
-
Nov 16
hummock
-
Nov 17
nugatory
-
Nov 18
farce
-
Nov 19
pell-mell
-
Nov 20
extirpate
-
Nov 21
temerity
-
Nov 22
leonine
-
Nov 23
vamoose
-
Nov 24
cornucopia
-
Nov 25
jejune
-
Nov 26
sustain
-
Nov 27
onomatopoeia
-
Nov 28
wheedle
-
Nov 29
motley
-
Nov 30
quiddity
October 2022
-
Oct 01
critique
-
Oct 02
emblazon
-
Oct 03
languid
-
Oct 04
onus
-
Oct 05
atone
-
Oct 06
gargantuan
-
Oct 07
proffer
-
Oct 08
spiel
-
Oct 09
avuncular
-
Oct 10
bombinate
-
Oct 11
mnemonic
-
Oct 12
rabble
-
Oct 13
decorous
-
Oct 14
transmogrify
-
Oct 15
cadence
-
Oct 16
frenetic
-
Oct 17
hyperbole
-
Oct 18
bespoke
-
Oct 19
writhe
-
Oct 20
interlocutor
-
Oct 21
cloying
-
Oct 22
abide
-
Oct 23
volition
-
Oct 24
genteel
-
Oct 25
sepulchre
-
Oct 26
peculiar
-
Oct 27
defile
-
Oct 28
utopia
-
Oct 29
notorious
-
Oct 30
scour
-
Oct 31
lycanthropy
September 2022
-
Sep 01
umbrage
-
Sep 02
grandiose
-
Sep 03
adjure
-
Sep 04
demeanor
-
Sep 05
assiduous
-
Sep 06
panache
-
Sep 07
conciliate
-
Sep 08
mawkish
-
Sep 09
facsimile
-
Sep 10
obliterate
-
Sep 11
substantive
-
Sep 12
invective
-
Sep 13
titivate
-
Sep 14
broadside
-
Sep 15
rancid
-
Sep 16
coalesce
-
Sep 17
laconic
-
Sep 18
exponent
-
Sep 19
haywire
-
Sep 20
verdigris
-
Sep 21
perspicacious
-
Sep 22
defer
-
Sep 23
misnomer
-
Sep 24
anthropomorphic
-
Sep 25
caucus
-
Sep 26
sporadic
-
Sep 27
fructify
-
Sep 28
kerfuffle
-
Sep 29
ritzy
-
Sep 30
proselytize
August 2022
-
Aug 01
frolic
-
Aug 02
nebulous
-
Aug 03
patina
-
Aug 04
brackish
-
Aug 05
heartstring
-
Aug 06
adjudicate
-
Aug 07
eminently
-
Aug 08
crepuscular
-
Aug 09
riposte
-
Aug 10
trivial
-
Aug 11
alleviate
-
Aug 12
melancholia
-
Aug 13
carceral
-
Aug 14
shard
-
Aug 15
dilatory
-
Aug 16
litany
-
Aug 17
wreak
-
Aug 18
immutable
-
Aug 19
charisma
-
Aug 20
unabashed
-
Aug 21
epitome
-
Aug 22
rash
-
Aug 23
abrogate
-
Aug 24
glitch
-
Aug 25
overwhelm
-
Aug 26
vociferous
-
Aug 27
sensibility
-
Aug 28
devolve
-
Aug 29
jaunty
-
Aug 30
effulgence
-
Aug 31
brandish
July 2022
-
Jul 01
debunk
-
Jul 02
apposite
-
Jul 03
teem
-
Jul 04
Yankee
-
Jul 05
cantankerous
-
Jul 06
recidivism
-
Jul 07
inscrutable
-
Jul 08
postulate
-
Jul 09
behemoth
-
Jul 10
gibbous
-
Jul 11
carp
-
Jul 12
eccentric
-
Jul 13
saga
-
Jul 14
validate
-
Jul 15
akimbo
-
Jul 16
nuance
-
Jul 17
finicky
-
Jul 18
sanction
-
Jul 19
emolument
-
Jul 20
waggish
-
Jul 21
iconoclast
-
Jul 22
muse
-
Jul 23
conscientious
-
Jul 24
pathos
-
Jul 25
extradite
-
Jul 26
Luddite
-
Jul 27
apropos
-
Jul 28
ostentatious
-
Jul 29
brouhaha
-
Jul 30
ineffable
-
Jul 31
menagerie
June 2022
-
Jun 01
behest
-
Jun 02
meld
-
Jun 03
perfunctory
-
Jun 04
decry
-
Jun 05
fidelity
-
Jun 06
sumptuous
-
Jun 07
vocation
-
Jun 08
arrogate
-
Jun 09
evanescent
-
Jun 10
lout
-
Jun 11
headlong
-
Jun 12
burgle
-
Jun 13
panacea
-
Jun 14
festoon
-
Jun 15
credulous
-
Jun 16
adulation
-
Jun 17
oblige
-
Jun 18
redolent
-
Jun 19
emancipation
-
Jun 20
garrulous
-
Jun 21
prescience
-
Jun 22
quibble
-
Jun 23
ingenuous
-
Jun 24
confidant
-
Jun 25
noisome
-
Jun 26
culminate
-
Jun 27
jingoism
-
Jun 28
fulsome
-
Jun 29
duress
-
Jun 30
scintillate
May 2022
-
May 01
leviathan
-
May 02
piggyback
-
May 03
schmooze
-
May 04
abeyance
-
May 05
fractious
-
May 06
mollify
-
May 07
sagacious
-
May 08
darling
-
May 09
orientate
-
May 10
conclave
-
May 11
ramshackle
-
May 12
bloviate
-
May 13
turpitude
-
May 14
verdant
-
May 15
hark back
-
May 16
epithet
-
May 17
nonpareil
-
May 18
indoctrinate
-
May 19
kibosh
-
May 20
ad hoc
-
May 21
paradox
-
May 22
galumph
-
May 23
mercurial
-
May 24
dander
-
May 25
benevolent
-
May 26
fetter
-
May 27
uncanny
-
May 28
propagate
-
May 29
junket
-
May 30
commemorate
-
May 31
ephemeral
April 2022
-
Apr 01
predilection
-
Apr 02
convoluted
-
Apr 03
exculpate
-
Apr 04
salient
-
Apr 05
adversity
-
Apr 06
grift
-
Apr 07
druthers
-
Apr 08
mettlesome
-
Apr 09
construe
-
Apr 10
liaison
-
Apr 11
zoomorphic
-
Apr 12
funambulism
-
Apr 13
bemuse
-
Apr 14
opportune
-
Apr 15
vanguard
-
Apr 16
timeless
-
Apr 17
resurrection
-
Apr 18
elicit
-
Apr 19
polyglot
-
Apr 20
imprimatur
-
Apr 21
juxtapose
-
Apr 22
simulacrum
-
Apr 23
askance
-
Apr 24
deem
-
Apr 25
hoary
-
Apr 26
minion
-
Apr 27
cerebral
-
Apr 28
salt junk
-
Apr 29
flummox
-
Apr 30
nefarious
Love It or Hate It
-
- When asked about her blind date, Carol spoke for hours with vitriol.
You know what it looks like… but what is it called?
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2 words for each letter in the alphabet. The words are fun to say and have a cool meaning. 52 words that make you sound smart when you use them.These words are great vocabulary builders.
52 words
4,869 learners
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Full list of words from this list:
-
zenith
the highest point of something
-
zealot
a fervent and even militant proponent of something
-
yearn
desire strongly or persistently
-
yawner
a person who yawns
-
xenophobia
a fear of foreigners or strangers
-
x-axis
the horizontal axis in a plane coordinate system
-
wonky
turned or twisted toward one side
-
wanton
a lewd or immoral person
-
vermillion
of a vivid red to reddish-orange color
-
vague
lacking clarity or distinctness
-
unique
the single one of its kind
-
uncanny
surpassing the ordinary or normal
-
tenacious
stubbornly unyielding
-
tangible
perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
-
serene
not agitated
-
saquinavir
a weak protease inhibitor used in treating HIV
-
rhetorical
relating to using language effectively
-
rambunctious
noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
-
quixotic
not sensible about practical matters
-
quell
suppress or crush completely
-
pique
call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
-
paradigm
a standard or typical example
-
oxymoron
conjoined contradictory terms
-
optimistically
with optimism; in an optimistic manner
-
nostalgic
unhappy about being away and longing for familiar things
-
narrative
an account that tells the particulars of an act or event
-
misanthrope
someone who dislikes people in general
-
melancholy
a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
-
lucid
transparently clear; easily understandable
-
lethargic
deficient in alertness or activity
-
ken
range of what one can know or understand
-
karma
effects of one’s actions that determine his or her destiny
-
jurisdiction
the territory within which power can be exercised
-
jejune
lacking interest or significance or impact
-
irony
incongruity between what might be expected and what occurs
-
integrity
an undivided or unbroken completeness with nothing wanting
-
hypnosis
a state that resembles sleep induced by suggestion
-
hyperbole
extravagant exaggeration
-
guise
an artful or simulated semblance
-
gallivant
wander aimlessly in search of pleasure
-
fortitude
strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity
-
fervent
characterized by intense emotion
-
esoteric
understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
-
empathy
understanding and entering into another’s feelings
-
dubious
fraught with uncertainty or doubt
-
disposition
your usual mood
-
cynical
believing the worst of human nature and motives
-
capricious
determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
-
bypass
avoid something
-
benevolent
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
-
ambiguous
having more than one possible meaning
-
alliteration
use of the same consonant at the beginning of each word
Created on January 4, 2013
(updated January 4, 2013)
According to the American Geological Institute’s Glossary of Geology, 4th edition, the definition of graben is the following:
«graben (n) An elongate trough or basin, bounded on both sides by high-angle normal faults that dip toward the interior of the trough.»
Breaking it down a bit:
A fault is a crack in a rock body along which the rock has moved—i.e., the rock on each side of the fault has moved relative to the rock on the other side. Most faults are tilted relative to Earth’s surface—they’re not perfectly vertical. Therefore, there is a body of rock «above» the fault and a body of rock «below» the fault. The rock «above» the fault is called the hanging wall. The rock «below» the fault is called the footwall:
The hanging wall and the footwall can move in two different ways. In a normal fault, the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall. In a thrust fault, the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall:
A graben is a valley bounded by high-angle (i.e., steep) normal faults on both sides:
Sorry about the blurry images. Blogger’s thumbnails aren’t that great. But you should be able to see the images in all their glory by clicking on them…
This is why students may often need help with their essays and papers with services and pay for research paper. If you are looking to expand your vocabulary, make your conversations brilliant and take a new perspective on life, maybe these words can help.
We have gathered 15 interesting and aesthetically pleasing words that could change the way you think. Some of these words for interesting purposes you will have heard of and used in your own vocabulary. Other words for interesting uses may be completely alien and you may struggle to pronounce them! Whatever the level of understanding, these words will provoke deep thought and broaden your horizons:
1. Intellectualized
To intellectualize something is to give it an intellectual character. This word can make us think about our own intellect. It can also prompt us to look at things in a different light.
2. Visualize
We visualize during our everyday lives without even realizing. Every time we form an image in our mind we are visualizing. This process is necessary for our own development. Consider what and how you can visualize in your own life.
3. Hubris
Hubris is a fantastic word that can mean an exaggerated sense of self-worth and an over-confidence that borders on arrogance. Consider your own hubris – maybe you are arrogant? Maybe you lack confidence and self-worth? Whichever way, use the word to better yourself.
4. Metanoia
Whilst metanoia means a deep spiritual transformation, we can apply this word in any number of ways. You could for example experience a metanoia of your own personality and transform your habits and ways for the better.
5. Lollygag
This has to be the best word in the world! Who wouldn’t want to lollygag? This word means to spend your time in a lazy and idle manner. We should all lollygag from time to time to prevent stress and relax.
6. Fugacious
Fugacious is a superb word that means fleeting. Many things in life are fugacious. What matters is that you make the most of every moment of your life as we are fugacious by nature – every second we live could be our last as life can be fleeting indeed.
7. Loquacious
Do you ever feel like the things you say are not interesting to anyone else but yourself? If so, you could be loquacious. Basically, you talk a great deal, and when you talk, it is about things that interest you! Don’t be loquacious – consider others and their own interests and feelings.
8. Schadenfreude
If you have ever experienced happiness or pleasure at the pain and misfortune of others, then you may call yourself a schadenfreude. This is something that we should all refrain from doing – taking pleasure in another human beings failure can only lead to self-loathing and bad karma.
9. Epistemology
This word means the study of knowledge itself. More specifically, the study of the limit of human knowledge and our origin. If we strip it down to its basic meaning, one could call it the study of thinking. As humans, there is no harm in studying epistemology, especially if we are studying our own personage and trying to better ourselves.
10. Quixotic
Have you heard of the character of Don Quixote? This is where the word quixotic comes from, and it means to be overly optimistic. In today’s modern world full of despair and doom we need people like this. Being quixotic may not be realistic, but it can bring happiness and optimism to others.
11. Logophile
A Logophile is someone who has a love of words. This word was created from the Greek terms of Logos and Phile, and it is rarely used in modern language. Would you consider yourself to be a lover of words? If not, maybe you could improve your vocabulary as suggested in this article? Maybe you could become a logophile and improve your studies with your new found love.
12. Serendipity
Serendipity means to have a chance occurrence/event that results in your benefit. When considering this word, think about all those chance events you have experienced – did they bring you good fortune? Furthermore, remember that not everything in your life has to be planned – chance and luck can be a good thing!
13. Limitless
As humans, we are often bound by limits. What you must remember is that these limits are often self-imposed. We often create mental limits that we do not foresee ourselves overcoming. This is why the word limitless is important and interesting. If you consider this word, you can push boundaries and see what you can really achieve.
14. Social
Social has a twin meaning in today’s society, and we would be better remembering its original meaning. When we say social today, we automatically think of social media – Twitter, Facebook etc. Forget about this and remember what social also means – to need companionship and society. Can this really be achieved through the internet or an app on your phone?
15. Panoramic
Panoramic is essentially a wide or sweeping view. This term is often used in photography. We can create epic panoramas of beautiful landscapes. But could we not also use panoramic and panorama as a metaphor to broaden our mind and horizons?
There you have it – 15 awesome and interesting words that can broaden your mind and potentially change the way you think. Why not expand your own vocabulary today and see what fantastic and unusual words you can pluck out of the dictionary?
Patrick Banks
Patrick is a Berlin-based dating advisor, motivational speaker, a huge fitness and vegan diet enthusiast and the main editor at Wingman Magazine, specialised in men’s health. His ultimate goal is to share with men around the world his passion for self-development and to help them to become the greatest version of themselves. He believes a healthy body and successful social interactions are two main keys to happiness.
As we have seen in the previous blog, How knowing other languages can help you learn English, there are many words in the English language ??which come from other countries. Some of these words do not only come from another language and you may not know it, but they also have an origin which you probably couldn’t have imagined. 10 interesting English words
In today’s blog we’re going to take a look at 10 interesting English words whose origin will surprise you. We even actually use some of these words in our daily life when speaking or writing, and they really have strange and unique origins that are unknown to us. You might even find funny the origins of some of these words!
1. Sandwich
The word sandwich ? makes reference to a very popular kind of food, made out of two slices of bread and some other food we put in the middle of it (such as cheese, ham, turkey, etc.).
What we don’t know is that this food was named after the 4th Earl of Sandwich, an English nobleman from the 1800s. It is believed that he used to eat his food between two pieces of bread so he could keep on playing on his gambling table, and his friends started asking the servants for “the same as Sandwich” and finally just “a sandwich”.
2. Clue
The word clue ? comes from the Greek word ‘clew’, used in the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. In this myth, Theseus used a ball of yarn or a ‘clew’ given to him by Ariadne so that he could find his way out of the labyrinth and not get lost.
A ‘clew’ is something that you use to guide your path, and it ended up becoming something that offers you guidance in your search to discover a truth. The spelling also changed a bit over time, becoming the word we use nowadays: ‘clue’.
3. Hooligan
Hooligan ? is a word used to describe a person who likes causing trouble for other people. The origin of the word is not completely clear, as there are many theories about it. If you look for the meaning in the Oxford English Etymology Dictionary, the name comes from an Irish surname (Houlihan) mentioned in an old song in the 19th Century.
The other most popular theory is that its origin goes back to the Jacobite Rising in the 18th Century, when a commander from the English army misheard the word for the insect midge in Scottish Gaelic, and created the word ‘hooligan’ to describe anyone and anything which was as frustrating as a midge.
4. Nice
The word nice ? is commonly used by students learning English, which has a positive meaning and is used to describe a good or pleasant person. But the word actually has a negative origin, as it is said to come from the French ‘nice’ which comes from the Latin ‘necius’.
At first it was used to describe a person who over-dressed in an absurd way but it finally (somehow) came to have the positive meaning that it has nowadays.
5. Shampoo
The word shampoo ?, which we normally use to refer to that soap we use to clean our hair, comes from the Hindi language and it means ‘to massage’. It was introduced into the English language and it ended up changing its meaning to something we use to ‘wash the hair’.
6. Nightmare
The word nightmare ? comes from joining two different words which are ‘night’ and ‘mare’. We know that the meaning of night is the period between sunset and sunrise, when we usually go to sleep. But the word mare (which shouldn’t be confused with mare = yegua) refers to a female goblin ? which suffocates you and tries to introduce bad thoughts into your head while you sleep.
7. Tattoo
Tattoos ✒️ are a really popular thing that many people get done nowadays, but few people know that the word comes from the Polynesian ‘tatau’ which means ‘a mark made on the skin’, which is the same as the meaning we have for the English word.
Before introducing this word into the English language, tattoos in England (which were done before the Polynesia was discovered) were referred as a form of painting, and they weren’t seen as badly as they are nowadays by older people.
8. Ketchup
Ketchup ?, which is one of the most popular sauces in the entire world, was first used in the 17th Century and comes from the Chinese word ‘kôe-chiap’ which used to refer to a mix of pickled fish and spices. In the English language it was first used at the end of the 17th Century and it was spelt ‘catchup’.
9. Checkmate
Checkmate ♟️, which is used in English to refer to a chess move in which the figure of the king doesn’t have any moves left to escape and is completely trapped, comes from the Persian word ‘shāh māt’ (which translates to ‘the king is helpless’). It can also be traced to the Arabic language, in which the word ‘māta’ means dead (the king is dead). 10 English words
10. Robot
Robot ? normally refers to a machine which is capable of carrying out many different actions in an autonomous way. But the word robot comes from the Czech word ‘robota’ which actually means ‘forced labour’.
It is funny, as robots are ‘forced’ to do things for us and they cannot choose to not do it, so we could say they are forced to work for us.
Now I would like to know which of these words’ origins did you find most interesting. Did you already know any of their origins? Do you know any other words in the English language which have a strange or funny origin? Let us know in the comments section below!
Estefanía