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30 Wonderfully Weird English Terms You Might Not Know

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It’s not clear how many words there are in the English language. Some sources report a rough number of 470,000 words, while others estimate our vocabulary includes about 1 million words. But some linguists have shared that they wouldn’t be surprised if the number was off the mark by a quarter-million.

Words are the building blocks of a language, and with so many terms, it’s no surprise that some of them can get a little… creative, if not utterly weird. When it comes to strange words, our dear English language is a whole treasure chest of oddities.

If weirdness is your cup of tea, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most unusual, creative, and downright funniest words in English, each with its own meaning explained. Whether you’re looking for some lesser-known words to spice up a conversation or just want to be able to say, “Wait, I know what that means”, these are the words for you!

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#1

Collywobbles

Meaning: icky feeling due to illness or anxiety.

123points

Bouche Clay 2 years ago

I got an upvote for using this word the other day! 😁

53points

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#2

Gobbledygook

Meaning: a language that is incomprehensible or is made unintelligible by excessive use of technical terms.

75points

kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago

Gobbledygook can quickly turn into argel-bargle.

32points

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#3

Snollygoster

Meaning: a shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician.

70points

Do-nut touch da donut 2 years ago

Lol

12points

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#4

Brouhaha

Meaning: a noisy and overexcited reaction or response to something.

67points

Evol 2 years ago

Love this word.

15points

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#5

Nincompoop

Meaning: a foolish or stupid person.

66points

kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago

One of Bertie Wooster’s favorite words.

23points

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#6

Flibbertigibbet

Meaning: a silly person who talks too much.

57points

James016 2 years ago

I work with a few people who will use 1000 words when 20 will be fine

5points

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#7

Everywhen

Meaning: an unusual way to say “always” or “all the time."

56points

Do-nut touch da donut 2 years ago

LOL🤣

7points

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#8

Rigamarole

Meaning: a long and complicated and confusing procedure.

52points

Do-nut touch da donut 2 years ago

School is rigamarole

18points

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#9

Lackadaisical

Meaning: a person who is lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.

50points

over it already 2 years ago

Pretty sure lackadaisical is an adjective, not a noun. Remove the 'a person who is' from the definition and it's fine.

34points

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#10

Whippersnapper

Meaning: a young and inexperienced person considered to be presumptuous or overconfident.

46points

Onion Cutting Ninja 2 years ago (edited)

ATLA, The king of Omashu, Aang says, "Get over here you young whippersnappers!" also in Tintin and the Crab with the Golden Claws I think it could be a different one when tintin and haddock are on the boat and haddock starts a fire he calls tintin a whippersnapper.

11points

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#11

Dragooned

Meaning: coerce (someone) into doing something.

43points

Robert Trebor 2 years ago

Dragoons - mounted soldiers at times used for law enforcement before police forces were formed. Horses can be quite effective at crowd control.

16points

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#12

Lollygag

Meaning: This word describes a person that is messing around and doing something that isn’t useful.

42points

Duesvolent90 2 years ago

So...I guess we're all lollygagging...But bored panda is useful tho

19points

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#13

Shenanigans

Meaning: high-spirited or mischievous activity.

42points

Pam Derck 2 years ago

This is one of my favorite words

8points

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#14

Canoodle

Meaning: kiss and cuddle amorously.

41points

Sarah Kathrin Matsoukis 2 years ago

Aww

4points

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#15

Bamboozle

Meaning: to confuse, frustrate, or throw off thoroughly or completely.

38points

kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago

I thought this meant “to cheat or mislead” someone.

10points

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#16

Malarkey

Meaning: insincere or foolish talk.

38points

Huddo's sister 2 years ago

"What a load of malarkey"

9points

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#17

Cantankerous

Meaning: difficult or irritating to deal with.

38points

Mary Daniel 2 years ago

Grumpy-saurous

7points

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#18

Sozzled

Meaning: intoxicated, very drunk.

36points

James016 2 years ago

Trolleyed, car parked etc...

16points

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#19

Wassail

Meaning: spiced ale or warmed wine drunk during celebrations for Twelfth Night and Christmas Eve.

36points

Benita Valdez 2 years ago

🎶 Here we come a wassailing among the leaves so green 🎶

17points

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#20

Quomodocunquizing

Meaning: making money in any way you can.

36points

Lauren S 2 years ago

Holy bananas that’s a mouthful!

31points

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#21

Bloviate

Meaning: talk at length, especially in an inflated or empty way.

35points

Rod McCabe 2 years ago

Bovine are beautiful. Bloviating is generally done by blowhard morons.

10points

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#22

Chockablock

Meaning: crammed full of people or things.

35points

Dakota Franks 2 years ago

I hate chockablocked places

10points

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#23

Lickety-split

Meaning: at great speed.

35points

Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent 2 years ago

As in, "let's get going lickety-split" to hurry people up, rather than, "well he's going lickety-split" which I've never heard used. Just my experience

5points

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#24

Argle-bargle

Meaning: Meaningless gibberish — whether done by talking or writing.

34points

kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago

Onomatopoeia.

9points

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#25

Bumbershoot

Meaning: an umbrella.

34points

Do-nut touch da donut 2 years ago

😭🤣🤣😭😭

8points

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#26

Woebegone

Meaning: sad or miserable in appearance.

33points

Lauren S 2 years ago (edited)

This is like if kids named antidepressants

22points

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#27

Spondulicks

Meaning: money, cash.

33points

Huddo's sister 2 years ago

There was an episode of Daria where Jane and Daria kept making bets, with the 'currency' differing each time, spondulicks being one of them. Think they included Simoleans.

11points

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#28

Hullaballoo

Meaning: a commotion or uproar that's on the unpleasant side.

32points

Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent 2 years ago

Not always unpleasant, if used in a jokey way or for example, referring to a noisy fun party that got a bit mental but not dangerous

10points

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#29

Doozy

Meaning: an extraordinary one of its kind.

31points

Evol 2 years ago

Watch out for that first step, it's a doozy! Thanks Ned.

14points

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#30

Nudiustertian

Meaning: relating to the day before yesterday or very recent.

30points

Robert T 2 years ago

Thought it was going to be something to do with nudists.

12points

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Note: this post originally had 110 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Saimonas Lukošius

Saimonas is a list curator at Bored Panda with BA in Multimedia. Saimonas has mainly worked as a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and finds joy in anything related to visual arts.

Saimonas is a list curator at Bored Panda with BA in Multimedia. Saimonas has mainly worked as a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and finds joy in anything related to visual arts.

Melanie Gervasoni

Writer on a quest to explore every corner of the world, one country at a time. Fueled by my love for Arcane, oversized hoodies, and weightlifting, I try my best to bring even more fun energy to Bored Panda. My cup of tea? Pop culture, funny content, sharing interesting facts about the world, and creating listicles for fellow Pandas. When I’m not crafting articles, my eyes are still glued to a screen — be it binge-watching my favorite shows, leveling up in video games, or learning Spanish with Duolingo. Always on the hunt for the ultimate playlist, I scour Deezer to find the right tunes to listen to while working on my creative projects.

Writer on a quest to explore every corner of the world, one country at a time. Fueled by my love for Arcane, oversized hoodies, and weightlifting, I try my best to bring even more fun energy to Bored Panda. My cup of tea? Pop culture, funny content, sharing interesting facts about the world, and creating listicles for fellow Pandas. When I’m not crafting articles, my eyes are still glued to a screen — be it binge-watching my favorite shows, leveling up in video games, or learning Spanish with Duolingo. Always on the hunt for the ultimate playlist, I scour Deezer to find the right tunes to listen to while working on my creative projects.

Monika Pašukonytė

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

Darja Zinina

Darja is a Content Creator at Bored Panda. She studied at the University of Westminster, where she got her Bachelor's degree in Contemporary Media Practice. She loves photography, foreign music and re-watching Forrest Gump.

Darja is a Content Creator at Bored Panda. She studied at the University of Westminster, where she got her Bachelor's degree in Contemporary Media Practice. She loves photography, foreign music and re-watching Forrest Gump.

What do you think ?

Caroline Sinclair 2 years ago

Half of these are still in use in Britain, and occur frequently in the sort of books that I read (few of which were written in the current century). Most of the rest are just weird.

18points

IamMe 2 years ago

A lot of them are used in the US, too. At least, in the northeast they are.

12points

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Will Cable 2 years ago

Wazzock - a foolish or annoying person.... eg "You utter pea brained wazzock"

12points

Alecto76 2 years ago

Armed with this list I shall be a wazzock to all my family and friends!

4points

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Craig Silberman 2 years ago

yikes! what does it say about my age or background that I know most of these words, and even use many of them?

11points

Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago

You are Stephen Fry and I claim my five pounds.

3points

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Caroline Sinclair 2 years ago

Half of these are still in use in Britain, and occur frequently in the sort of books that I read (few of which were written in the current century). Most of the rest are just weird.

18points

IamMe 2 years ago

A lot of them are used in the US, too. At least, in the northeast they are.

12points

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Will Cable 2 years ago

Wazzock - a foolish or annoying person.... eg "You utter pea brained wazzock"

12points

Alecto76 2 years ago

Armed with this list I shall be a wazzock to all my family and friends!

4points

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Craig Silberman 2 years ago

yikes! what does it say about my age or background that I know most of these words, and even use many of them?

11points

Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago

You are Stephen Fry and I claim my five pounds.

3points

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