Discombobulated. The first time I heard it, an old man I worked with had used it and I gave him shit for it because I thought he had made it up. I still laugh about that sometimes
Onomatopoeia, it's a fun word on it's own, but I love the while idea of it. Especially in other languages, like the million different words for dog barks.
It's got such a pleasing sound to the ear, feels nice in the mouth when you say it, and even looks pretty nice on the page.
It means something in an advance state of use, with connotations of neglect or disrepair, and is often used to describe things that would be thrown away were they not rendered nessesary by being the only option.
To me it evokes urchins, rags, wildflowers, and a little bit of magic.
Entreat - verb - ask someone earnestly and anxiously to do something
It's a handy word that kind of combines "pleading" and "asking". It's a bummer it fell out of style because I can think of many scenarios where it would fit perfectly.
Qualia - instances of subjective conscious experience
It's fun to say, fun to think about how your red and my red differ subjectively but we still agree that red is red, and just a fun word.
The concept itself has many strong detractors and arguments against it being real, but eh, I'll keep on thinking about it.
I love what it represents, how it can be good or evil depending on your point of view (there's a reason why DnD used it as an axis perpendicular to Good-Evil), and it sounds really cool. It is also the first word I'd use to describe my life at any point in time. Maybe life itself!
It sounds good in all languages I know but has the distinction of sounding even better in English, despite coming from the Greek Kaos it somehow sounds cooler in English (a distinction shared by few, if any, other words coming from Greek to English). It is also written in an amazing manner, with a "H" that came out of nowhere and has no reason to be there other than just cause... Chaos. I love it.
The Greek pronunciation is actually Haos (with a heavy H like hotel), so this is where H is coming from. It's the C that is actually added in order for English to attempt to pronounce it closer to the original sound (and fail as per usual. Look up paranoia for example).
So it is! I don't know why I remembered it as kaos (καος with the accent somewhere, I don't know Greek, modern or ancient). It's χάος. Makes total sense.
Plámás. Pronounced plaw-maws. It's an Irish word that mostly means "gently placate" or "smooth talk" but usually I would use it in the context of placating someone who's behaving badly.
e.g. Don't plámás that eejit. You'll only encourage him.
I don't think it directly translates to English though someone with better vocabulary may correct me.
Yes indeed it's very close, but in my head it's slightly more active.
Let's say a child is having a meltdown and the parent is trying to (incorrectly) placate them by giving them an ice cream. That would be plámásing. I feel like it actively encourages the bad behaviour rather than being more neutral which I'd consider "humouring".
ね (ne).
Because it's a cool way to end a sentence in Japanese.
そのいえは大きいですね。
so-no-i-e-wa-oo-ki-i-de-su-ne.
That house is big ね。
That house is big isn't it.
に！に！に！
How do you feel about the Canadian "eh?" or the British "innit?"
I will now read every Japanese sentence ending in ね as "innit?"
I cannot think of a case where that doesn't work, lol. Perfect.
I'm a fan of the British "yhu-no"
I never liked the Glaswegian "but". Silly way to end a sentence but
.
Sono*
あああああああああ！！！
Fixed.
Quixotic - cannot even remember what it means
It meant my Dad never played Scrabble with my mom ever again, that's what it meant.
Across two Triple Word tiles, no less.
I think it means like a person is taking something that is foolish or misguided far to seriously.
Yes :) , it looks that it takes its roots to Don Quixote (english is not my first language but come on, Don Quixote I could have remembered that)
I means acting in a manner that's hard to understand.
ℹ️ "exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical"
Discombobulated. The first time I heard it, an old man I worked with had used it and I gave him shit for it because I thought he had made it up. I still laugh about that sometimes
.
Facetiously has all the vowels, in order, including "y".
Paraphernalia is a fantastic word for "stuff"
Kumquat
It sounds funny and it's fun to say.
Fuck. Fuck can mean so many things. Just all round best word of all time.
We use it up here as a form of punctuation, if you can find it check out Bowser and Blue: Use of Fuck in Canada
Asinine. It's a perfect descriptor and it's succinct.
Onomatopoeia, it's a fun word on it's own, but I love the while idea of it. Especially in other languages, like the million different words for dog barks.
tatterdemalion
It's got such a pleasing sound to the ear, feels nice in the mouth when you say it, and even looks pretty nice on the page.
It means something in an advance state of use, with connotations of neglect or disrepair, and is often used to describe things that would be thrown away were they not rendered nessesary by being the only option.
To me it evokes urchins, rags, wildflowers, and a little bit of magic.
I will be trying to shoe string this in to my vocabulary!
Detritus
Hullabaloo
Fracas
Widdershins
Ideological
Fracas is a good one.
Last time I remember hearing that was when Top Gear imploded.
I think you might enjoy this skit: https://youtu.be/0uuCNAwXGaQ
Serene
Good
Applause
Super
Incredible
Hope
Dream
Mostly because of the positive vibes those words give me! 😇
You seem like a really positive person! :)
Aw thank you! 😃
Yawn. If you pronounce it while sleepy, you actually yawn. And the yawn will sound like the word yawn.
Maybe I'm just sleepy, but I like the word :)
Effective has two effs. I appreciate that defective only has one eff. Like, if you give an eff about something, you can make what doesn’t work, work.
English word: curmudgeon or cattywampus
French word: hippopotame
Moist
Yes, my fav too, it has such fun uses, as in, that muffin is so moist. just drag out the oi a little. The fact so many dislike the word prolly helps
floccinaucinihilipilification
Ah, yes, the state or being of believing in NOTHING
Entreat - verb - ask someone earnestly and anxiously to do something
It's a handy word that kind of combines "pleading" and "asking". It's a bummer it fell out of style because I can think of many scenarios where it would fit perfectly.
I entreat that we bring this word back
"optimal frustration" (one single word in several languages that aren't English)
Something is too easy? Easily bored.
Something is altogether too difficult? Feels hopeless.
Optimal frustration is where the magic happens, be it in education or a computer game.
Amalgam. It has a mouthfeel of chewing caramel.
Lackadaisical.
ℹ️ "lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy"
Koselig, the Norwegian word for cozy that is also a reflexive verb.
Smithereens, because I’ve been playing overwatch and I play as soldier 76 a lot. He’s such a funny character.
The way he says “I’m goin in!” cracks me up.
bubble
Loaf
Serendipitous. just fun to say
Someone already took cattywampus, so I guess I'll go with ennui or petrichor.
Bonus: triskaidekaphobia.
(Intense fear of the number 13.)
Thanks MTG.
Syzygy
Sesquipedalian
According to QI, "set" is the most versatile word in English
"Fuck" isn't fuckin far behind though
I was recently reminded of the figurative usage of poleaxed. That's my current favorite.
Not a native Spanish speaker but I've always loved "otoño" (autumn). Such a beautiful word to say.
And it rhymes with another beautiful word
Reasonable
Vituperative.
ℹ️ "bitter and abusive", as in a comment or other way of communicating
Catalyst
Rick rolled
Why isnt this a link O.o
Link (nicely obfuscated so as to not spoil the surprise)
Qualia - instances of subjective conscious experience
It's fun to say, fun to think about how your red and my red differ subjectively but we still agree that red is red, and just a fun word.
The concept itself has many strong detractors and arguments against it being real, but eh, I'll keep on thinking about it.
Mellifluous -- to me it flows in a self-descriptive way.
Off the top of my head I thought it was just flirting, but the internet says it's specifically a woman who flirts.
It also made me think of croquettes. Now I want some salmon croquettes with a squeeze of lemon.
Monachopsis. The subtle and persistent feeling of being out of place, in the company of misfits and dreaming of a place to belong.
And i blame you for the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows binge you've put me on
Differential, différentielle, or diferencial
In English, French, and Spanish, it just sounds cool no matter what accent.
Might as well throw in a scandinavian version while you're at it: Differensial or differensiert depending on context
apotheosis. you may not like it, but this is peak form's peak form.
i like it because the o sounds roll easy and rhymes. it also ends with a hiss sound.
Teyandee!
Bamboozled has a nice buzz to it.
Its a word that carries an air of a 1960 detective 😍
Liquid
Chaos.
I love what it represents, how it can be good or evil depending on your point of view (there's a reason why DnD used it as an axis perpendicular to Good-Evil), and it sounds really cool. It is also the first word I'd use to describe my life at any point in time. Maybe life itself!
It sounds good in all languages I know but has the distinction of sounding even better in English, despite coming from the Greek Kaos it somehow sounds cooler in English (a distinction shared by few, if any, other words coming from Greek to English). It is also written in an amazing manner, with a "H" that came out of nowhere and has no reason to be there other than just cause... Chaos. I love it.
The Greek pronunciation is actually Haos (with a heavy H like hotel), so this is where H is coming from. It's the C that is actually added in order for English to attempt to pronounce it closer to the original sound (and fail as per usual. Look up paranoia for example).
So it is! I don't know why I remembered it as kaos (καος with the accent somewhere, I don't know Greek, modern or ancient). It's χάος. Makes total sense.
Still think it sounds better in English!
Plámás. Pronounced plaw-maws. It's an Irish word that mostly means "gently placate" or "smooth talk" but usually I would use it in the context of placating someone who's behaving badly.
e.g. Don't plámás that eejit. You'll only encourage him.
I don't think it directly translates to English though someone with better vocabulary may correct me.
I think it sounds a bit like the verb "to humour" as in to play along with someones crap.
Yes indeed it's very close, but in my head it's slightly more active.
Let's say a child is having a meltdown and the parent is trying to (incorrectly) placate them by giving them an ice cream. That would be plámásing. I feel like it actively encourages the bad behaviour rather than being more neutral which I'd consider "humouring".
Lugubrious is a good one. Doesn't really sound like what it means.
ℹ️ "looking or sounding sad or dismal"
scallywag
it's fun to say
Banana.
And if I feel cheecky, I say it in a British accent:
Bunarner.
zen
'Sennight'. It means ten days. Saying it just feels like making a flourish with my tongue.
Wiktionary seems to disagree.
But tenday is a good word for that.
Aw. :( I wanted to be right about that one.
Based