One word for everyday things

Most of the time, it’s not too much of a challenge to describe the things we do everyday. We eat. We sleep. We talk. But what about stretching your arms after you wake up, or that sound of your stomach rumbling at lunchtime? Did you know there are single words for those everyday occurrences as well? Get ready to sound a whole lot smarter, because we’ve rounded up 30 words for things you do every day that you never knew had a name.

We’ve all been guilty of boondoggling—probably more than we’d like to admit. It’s the act of doing work that has little to no value just for the sake of looking busy. And trust us, your boss knows.

Make sure you take it slow when you jot down your grocery list. Because if you don’t, your griffonage, or illegible handwriting, could lead to you buying Cheerios when you really needed cheese.

If you’re one of the millions of people who thought ‘NSYNC’s hit song was a springtime tune called «It’s Gonna Be May» (instead of the actual title, «It’s Gonna Be Me), you can call that mondegreen, which is what happens when you mishear a lyric that changes the meaning of a song.

That rumbling feeling in your stomach when you’re hungry? That’s wambling, and it means you need to take your lunch break ASAP.

Have you ever said «biting my time» instead of «biding my time»? That’s an eggcorn, which is when you mistakenly use a word or phrase because it sounds similar to the one you meant to use.

If you rub your eyes too hard, you might start seeing phosephenes. Those are the bright spots you see when you close your eyes and put pressure on them.

That magical moment when you feel the warm sun on your face on a cold day? That’s apricity, a name for the heat from the sun in winter.

The acnestis is the part of your back that you just can’t reach, although we’d bet that you try and scratch it at least a few times a day.

Grabbing your morning coffee? Make sure you grab a zarf so you don’t burn your hands! That’s the cardboard holder you put around your coffee so you can hold it.

We’re sure you were told multiple times not to do this while you were growing up. In British English, accubation is the act of eating or drinking while lying down.

Your bad habits have a name: akrasia, or the act of doing something contrary to what you know is best. For example, a good example of akrasia would be going on a shopping spree at Target when you know you don’t have the extra cash.

Electronic devise not working? Well, have you tried turning it off then turning it back on? That’s called power cycling.

Got that ringing in your ears? No, you’re not going crazy. It’s called tinnitus and many people experience it—with a large amount of people believing the sound is in E flat.

A similarly annoying occurrence is the tingling you feel when your leg falls asleep. This is called paresthesia, i.e. the «pins and needles» feeling that can occur in any part of the body.

If you’re finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning, you’re experiencing dysania. While it’s not formally recognized, some people consider it to be an actual medical condition, according to WebMD.

You know that feeling you get before you speak in front of a large crowd? Or before you talk to a person you’re interested in? Those butterflies are technically called collywobbles.

Men are usually the ones practicing pogonothrophy (especially during No Shave November)—it’s the act of growing out facial hair.

Pandiculation is the act of stretching out those stiffened muscles, usually when you’re tired or first waking up.

Defenstrate is the act of throwing something or someone out of a window—both of which you should probably avoid.

That small fuss you make over the way you’re dressed right before you leave the house? It’s called prinking—and don’t worry, you probably look great!

Aren’t these words just fan-freaking-tastic?! Well, that brings us to the word tmesis. It’s when you separate one word into two by inserting another word for emphasis.

Stuck at a party you don’t want to be at? Just absquatulate, which means to leave abruptly.

If someone reluctantly offers you some of their food because they saw you eyeing it, that’s a classic example of accismus. It’s the irony in which someone pretends to be disinterested in something they actually want.

The word ambedo, which has Latin roots, is described as the «melancholy trance you experience when you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details,» like when you’re listening to the raindrops on a window or watching snow fall in front of a streetlamp.

Meanwhile, the act of absent-mindedly staring without focusing on your thoughts has a Japanese term: boketto. It’s similar to daydreaming, except it involves not thinking at all. Sounds kind of nice, doesn’t it?

That excess weight you gain from emotional over-eating is called kummerspeck in German. It literally translates to grief bacon.

That last-minute, panicked cleaning session you engage in right before guests come over is called scurryfunge.

Have you ever had that dreaded moment where you go to address someone and completely blank on their name? The term for that act of hesitation is tartle, which is actually a Scottish word.

If you exchange a look with someone who you know feels the same way as you, it’s called mamihlapinatapai. The word is from the endangered Yámana language, but according to linguist Thomas Bridges, it basically describes a look shared between two people.

Anecdoche is a group conversation in which everyone is talking just to one-up each other, but no one is really listening. For instance, when someone just has to tell you about the time they broke their leg after you explained how you had been experiencing an odd leg pain. And for more words to add to your ever-expanding vocabulary, check out these 30 Useful Yiddish Words Anyone Can Use.

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ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR ELEMENTARY

EVERYDAY THINGS(47)

A	THINGS WE DO EVERY DAY
B	SOMETIMES I …
C	EXPRESSIONS A: How often do you go out / watch a film? B: Three or four times a week. A: What time do you get up / go to work? B: At 7 o’clock normally. A: How do you go to work? B: Usually by bus / train / car. (See also Unit 38: Have / had / had and Unit 41: Make / made / made.) COMMON MISTAKES We say I usually get up at 8 o’clock, but today I got up at 8.30. [NOT I used to / I’m used to get up at 8 o’clock.]

Exercises

47.1	What do they usually do? 1 ____He listens to the radio every morning________. 2 She w__________________ (every Saturday 3 He c__________________ (every weekend 4 He w__________________ (every evening 5 She g__________________ (every Sunday
47.2	Ask questions. Topic Question Answer 1 get up What time do you get up? 7.30, usually. 2 go for a walk How _______________ Every Saturday. 3 go to work How _______________ By train. 4 have dinner When _______________ At about 7 o’clock usually. 5 come home from work How _______________ I normally walk home. 6 phone your best friend How _______________ Two or three times a week. 7 clean your room When _______________ On Saturday morning usually. 8 have a shower What _______________ Usually at about 11 pm.
47.3	Complete the sentences about yourself. 1 I usually wake up at _________________ 2 I go to the bathroom and have _________________ 3 I usually have _________________ for breakfast. 4 I go to work by _________________ 5 I usually have a cup of tea / coffee at _________________o’clock. 6 I usually come home at _________________ 7 I usually _________________ dinner at _________________ o’clock. 8 In the evenings I normally _________________ or _________________ 9 Sometimes I _________________ one or two emails or _________________ to the radio. 10 I usually_________________ to bed at _________________

ANSWER
KEY

47.1	2	She washes (the / her) clothes every Saturday.
3	He cleans the house / his flat every weekend.
4	He watches TV / television every evening.
5	She goes for a walk every Sunday.

47.2	possible questions
2	How often do you go for a walk?	6	How often do you phone your best friend?
3	How do you go to work?	7	When do you clean your room?
4	When do you have dinner?	8	What time do you have a shower?
5	How do you come home from work?

47.3	Possible answers
1	I usually wake up at 7 o’clock.
2	I go to the bathroom and have a shower.
3	I usually have tea and toast for breakfast.
4	I go to work by car.
5	I usually have a cup of coffee at 11 o’clock.
6	I usually come home at about 6 pm.
7	I usually make dinner at 7 o’clock.
8	In the evenings I normally watch TV or go for a walk.
9	Sometimes I write one or two emails or listen to the radio.
10	I usually go to bed at 11 o’clock.

As a self-confessed word nerd, I love learning new words. Whether it’s something I read online or a sneaky (some might say lucky) move by one of my opponents on Words With Friends, I get a buzz from expanding my vocabulary with words for things I never knew had names.

Another great source for discovering new words is Pinterest, which is where I found most of these…

Actual words for everyday things

Aglet = the metal or plastic tube at each end of a shoelace

Agraffe = the wire cage that secures the cork in a bottle of bubbly

Coronis = the curved line or flourish at the end of a book or chapter

Ferrule = the metal part at the end of a pencil

Glabella = the space between your eyebrows

Grawlix = the typographical symbols used to represent a swear word, e.g. @#$%

Lacrimal caruncle = the small pink nodule in the inner corner of your eye

Lunula = the white crescent-shaped area at the base of your nails

Phloem bundles = the long stringy bits you get when peeling a banana

Phosphenes = the stars and colours you see when you rub your eyes

Pilcrow = the symbol (¶) used to mark a new paragraph or section of text

Pips = the dots on dice and dominoes; the symbols that denote suits and value of playing cards

Punt = the dimple found in the bottom of a wine bottle

Purlicue =  the space between your thumb and index finger

Throat = the thin area of a racquet handle, where it meets the head

Tittle = a small dot or mark that’s part of a letter, such as the dot above ‘i’ and ‘j’

Zarf = the cardboard sleeve on take-out coffee cups to stop you burning your fingers

Over to you

So how many of these names were new to you? Do you know any other words for things most of us probably didn’t even know had names? If so, do please share them below and help me continue to expand my lexicon 🙂

(Image: TheMetaPicture.com)

Posted in Language, Names Tagged with: words

There really are some weird names for things in English.

Do you know that there is a word for the day before yesterday? It’s ereyesterday.

Who would know that?

But if you are interested in uncommon English words, here’s a chance to check your knowledge.

A fun vocabulary test for writers

You are using your extensive vocabulary of English words all day and every day.

But there might be a few gaps in your English language knowledge.

With over a million words, our language is extremely rich.

But who can remember all of the strange words in the English language?

There is a word for every movement, emotion, or thing you can possibly imagine.

Many new technical words come from our use of online technology.

We also use a lot of use foreign words too.

Then there are silly invented words we use in everyday conversation like tic tacs, big data, noobs, unfriend, and selfies.

Do you believe you have a fantastic knowledge of vocabulary?

Well, here’s a fun, weird name for common things test to challenge you.

Find the right word for 18 everyday objects

Take a look at the images below.

There are 18 things that we see almost every day of our life. But they could be objects that you didn’t know had names.

There is nothing strange or unusual here.

These are some of the most common things we use and look at every day without giving them even a second thought.

But if you needed to write about any of these objects, what word would you use?

Each image has a circle around the object. For each one, you need to find the correct word for the object.

Are you up to this challenging but fun, weird names for things vocabulary test to find the odd words for these common things?

Well, let’s get started and see if you can find the correct answer for each image.

Weird names for things – can you solve the puzzle?

How did you get on with this English word vocabulary test?

Maybe you are a little mystified by one or two or even a few more.

Well, relax, and don’t panic too much.

Very few people know all of these rare words. But if you are curious, the answers are towards the end of this article.

What do we use when we don’t know a word?

Sometimes, describing is the best way to let your readers know what you are talking about.

If you have an extended vocabulary, words you use that are relatively uncommon might confuse a reader. Or you will have them hunting for a dictionary.

It’s always a choice to make between complex and simple words or using a description for clarity.

For the 18 items in the images, readers may not understand the unusual words for these things.

You would probably use phrases similar to the following to describe the objects to your readers.

It’s better to describe

1. The white, crescent-shaped end part of the fingernail.

2. The metal or plastic piece on the end of shoelaces.

3. The area between your eyebrows.

4. The crusty outer part of a pizza.

5. The white foam on the top of a glass of beer.

6. The part of your hand between your thumb and index finger.

7. The metal piece that is at the end of a pencil with an eraser.

8. The indentation in the bottom of a wine bottle.

9. The frames within a window.

10. The dots above the letters i and j.

11. The end of a hammer that doesn’t strike nails.

12. The sharp prongs of a fork.

13. A dollop of toothpaste on a toothbrush.

14. The loop on a belt to hold the end in place after passing through the buckle.

15. The wire cage that holds a champagne cork in place.

16. A piece of cloth that protects the headrest of a seat or sofa from dirt or soiling.

17. The little toe on your foot.

18. The red fleshy part attached near the base of a turkey’s beak.

It’s your choice when it comes to unusual vocabulary. Do you describe, or do you use the single uncommon word for an object or thing?

The selection is yours to make as a writer.

Feelings, sensations, and very peculiar words

There are many uncommon words that you could consider using as a writer.

Let’s try some of these strange words for everyday emotions, senses, and feelings on for size.

Petrichor
Vagitus
Phosphenes
Dysania
Collywobbles
Paresthesia
Crapulence
Scurryfunge
Aphthongs
Tmesis

What do these ten weird names for things mean?

I can hear you running off to your dictionary right now. Well, perhaps hear your clicks on your keyboard as you use Google Search to find the answers.

Don’t you just love English vocabulary? They could be very cool words to use in your writing.

Here are the answers

It’s okay; you can take it easy now. Here are the definitions to save you hunting for them.

Petrichor: The way the air smells after it rains.

Vagitus: The particular cry of a newborn baby.

Phosphenes: The strange lights and flashing you see when you close your eyes.

Dysania: When you find it hard to get out of bed in the morning.

Collywobbles: The feeling of butterflies in your stomach.

Paresthesia: A pins and needles or numb feeling, particularly in your fingers or limbs.

Crapulence: A sick feeling you get when you eat or drink to excess.

Scurryfunge: The time you spend running around frantically cleaning before guests arrive.

Aphthongs: Silent letters you don’t pronounce like K and H.

Tmesis: When you separate a word into two parts for effect and then add an extra syllable in between. For example, I am going to abso-freaking-lutely solve this vocabulary puzzle.

The solution to the weird everyday objects picture puzzle

How well did you do finding these weird names for things? Did you find the right word for all of the 18 objects in the images above?

I’m sure you knew a lot of these words. But for the ones that remain a mystery, here are the correct answers for you.

1. Lunule (The lunula is the white crescent at the base of your fingernail.)
2. Aglet
3. Glabella
4. Cornicione
5. Barm
6. Purlicue
7. Ferrule
8. Punt
9. Muntin
10. Tittle
11. Peen
12. Tines
13. Nurdle
14. Keeper
15. Agraffe (It can also be called a cage or muselet.)
16. Antimacassar
17. Minmus (By the way, your big toe is called the hallux.)
18. Snood

Conclusion

Words are your currency as a writer. You should always be trying to add more variety to your usable vocabulary.

It’s not how many words you know, though, but how you use them in your writing.

Communicating with your readers is not always easy. You have to find the best ways to bring a clear vision to their minds.

You can use one word, or you can write a description. The choice is always up to you.

But it never hurts at all to enrich and build your vocabulary knowledge.

Related reading: Can You Find All 27 Figure Of Speech Examples In This Picture Puzzle?