Rare and Ridiculous Words You May Not Know

The English language is a minefield for young players. Even simple words can have two meanings, even though they sound or are spelled the same way.

For example, it must be very confusing for people learning English, which words to use.

Is it "to," "two," or "too"?

Is it “there” or “their”?

Is it “where” or "wear"?

As writers, we must become familiar with these nuances. Sometimes we can be too smart for our own good. Like the young student who was in a spelling bee. When asked to spell "orange," they replied, “The fruit or the colour?"

I wrote a story a few months ago about some strange words that you may not have heard of.

From the comments I received, some had heard of a few, but no one responded to say they knew all of them. In fact no one got over 50%.

Here are twelve more strange, unusual, or beautiful words to test your knowledge again.

Ridiculous words

1. Borborygmus - I suffer from this all the time because I usually only eat one meal a day. It’s the rumbling or gurgling sound of a stomach. It is caused by the movement of gas and fluids through your intestines.

People with intestinal disorders, such as celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome, often hear borborygmus more often.

2. Chockablock - Packed or full to the brim, crammed full of people or things. I love this word and use it quite lot. The train was chockablock, as an example.

It's a late 18th-century word from a nautical term. It describes sailing tackle with two blocks close together.

3. Flibbertigibbet - describes a silly, flighty person. They often talk too much. It has been credited to Shakespeare, but he didn’t invent the word. It was used by Jesuits before him.

It's not really offensive, but I suggest you practice it a few times if you plan to use it!

4. Acnestis - means that part of your back between the shoulder blades that one can't reach to scratch. Usually right between the shoulder blades, where you can't quite reach to scratch.

It is a universal spot of frustration for humans and animals alike. I have often had to rub against the edge of a door or a post. For some reason, it hits me more often when I am out running, so I end up looking like a prize dork working on a post.

It comes from Greek roots meaning "unscratchable".

Unusual/Unpronounceable words

5. Floccinaucinihilipilification - The act of estimating something as worthless. A very long word that is almost unpronounceable for a simple concept. This is one of the longest words in the English dictionary. If you need to know how to pronounce it is:

flok-si-naw-si-ni-hi-li-pil-i-fi-kay-shun (in the US) or flok-suh-naw-suh-ni-hi-li-pil-i-fi-kay-shun (in the UK).

It is derived from four Latin terms - locci, nauci, nihili, pili - all words meaning a 'little value’ + fication.

I don't suggest you leave a comment: " I found your story to be an 8,000-word exercise in triviality.”

6. Monophobia - You might be given the impression that this means to have only one phobia. It is, however, a phobia of being alone. I certainly don’t have this. People who are monophobic go to great lengths to avoid being alone and are often aware that their fear is irrational.

It is a great word to include in your next character description of a psychopath or a serial killer.

7. Athanazagoraphobia - is the fear of forgetting, being forgotten, or being ignored. It also includes the fear of being replaced or forgetting something important.

I think many people experience this, even if it is only mild, as they age. For people who suffer from dementia, it can be a very real fear.

8. Agathokakological - means something that is composed of both good and bad. It comes from the Greek word "agath-" meaning good, and "kako-" (a variant of "cac-") meaning bad. It also includes the suffix "-logical" from the word "logos."

It could be a perfect word for a story character who appears good but is secretly deviant or dangerous. Think of a black widow.

Four beautiful words to finish

I'm not sure whether you can have a beautiful word. These four certainly, for me, instil a sense of calm and peace, and they sound pretty cool.

9.Querencia - A place where one feels safe, where we know who we are. It often relates to a specific place. This could be at home, sitting in a comfy chair, or enjoying your favourite music.

Like so many words, it is derived from the Latin word "quaerere," meaning to seek, gain, obtain, or ask. It has a pleasing ring that could be used in a poem, like a place for a person.

In a story, a character may return to their querencia to find solace in adversity.

10. Eunoia – beautiful thinking or a well-minded or good-willed. Just for a change, this comes from two Greek words," eu" (good) and "nous" (mind).

I can see it as part of a character description of a granny with a kind gesture or a good-natured neighbour.

** Fun fact for your next trivia night: it is the shortest word in the English language that uses all five vowels.

11. Susurrus - A soft murmuring, rustling, or whispering sound. What a great word to include in a poetry line:

“The susurrus sound of the river calmed his spirit,” or “ the susurrus of wind through the trees was the only sound he heard.”

You can also use the adjective "susurration" to conjure up a feeling of peace and calm.

12. Serein - the fine, light rain that falls from a clear sky at sunset or in the early hours of a night, evening serenity. A word that brings me the same calm as “petrichor” is equally lovely. “Petrichor” describes the delightful scent of nature after rain.

This word comes from the French "serein", which means serene or clear. This, in turn, comes from the Latin “serenus”.

Another great word for a poem:

“The evening was still as the soft serein fell,

Creating serenity for all to feel well."

So, there you have it, twelve more words to add to your repertoire.

Don’t forget to tell me how many of them you knew, and I expect to see them popping up in stories and poems soon. 😉😉

Till next time,

Calvin