Are you a fan of weird words that make you raise an eyebrow or laugh?
Then you have arrived at the right list post!
My name is Gregory Venvonis. I’m a blogger, fiction author, and logophile at heart.
I put together this post in my spare time because I also love finding new ways to be inspired and share that inspiration with others.
This list of unusual and weird words is complete with corresponding meanings and etymology for each.
Some of these words sound funny and others have strange meanings. Nonetheless, I hope they give you a fresh way to explain or share your unique life experiences with others!
Weird words in English and their meanings
Blatherskite
Definition: Blatherskite (n.) – one who talks a lot but doesn’t make any sense.
Word origin: English
Bumfuzzle
Definition: Bumfuzzle (adj.) – confused or perplexed.
Word origin: Southern U.S. English.
Cacophony
Definition: Cacophony (n.) – a collection of harsh disharmonious sounds.
Word origin: English from the Greek words, kakos and phōnē
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Definition: Floccinaucinihilipilification (n.) – the habit or act of estimating something as worthless.
Word origin: English word coined by pupils at Eton College based on various Latin root words: floccus (“a wisp”) + naucum (“a trifle”) + nihilum (“nothing”) + pilus (“a hair”) + -fication
Fudgel
Definition: Fudgel (v.) – to give the appearance of working while in reality doing nothing at all.
Word origin: English (18th century).
Gigantomachy
Definition: Gigantomachy (n.) – a struggle between Giants and Olympians in Greek Mythology.
Word origin: English from the Greek word gigantomakhia.
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
Definition: Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (n.) – fear of long words.
Word origin: English from two root words. The first is Hippopotamine, which means “characteristic of a hippopotamus.” The second is sesquippedali, which is a Latin word that means “measures a foot and a half long.”
Note: This word and its definition have are quite ironic in that it is unpleasant to those with this phobia.
Impignorate
Definition: Impignorate (v.) – to pledge or mortgage.
Word origin: British English from the Latin word impignoratus
Omnishambles
Definition: Omnishambles (n.) – a situation, especially one that is politics, made in poor judgment that results in total chaos and disorder.
Word origin: British English neologism coined in the BBC political satire The Thick of It. Omnishambles combines the the Latin word omni and the English word shambles.
Quincunx
Definition: Quincunx (n.) – a geometric pattern or arrangement of five objects with four of the objects at the four corners of a rectangle or square and the fifth object in the middle of the four.
Word origin: English from the Latin word, quinque.
Note: The quincunx is typically used to describe five-sided dice and as an aspect of 150°, equivalent to five zodiacal signs.
Quomodocunquizing
Definition: Quomodocunquizing (v.) – to make money in any possible way.
Word origin: English from the Latin word quomodocunque.
Sialoquent
Definition: Sialoquent (adj.) – tending to spray saliva while speaking.
Word origin: English from the Ancient Greek word síalon.
Velleity
Definition: Velleity (n.) – an inclination or wish that isn’t strong enough to lead to action.
Word origin: English from the Latin word velleitās.
Widdershins
Definition: Widdershins (adv.) – moving in a direction that is opposite of the sun; counter-clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Word origin: Scottish English from the German word widersinnig which means “against sense.”
Xertz
Definition: Xertz (v.) – to gulp something down, especially in a quicky and greedy way.
Word origin: English.
Weird words in Spanish and their meanings
Arrebolada
Arrebolada (n.) – the effect that sunlight has on clouds which makes them turn orange.
Word origin: Spanish.
Dominguero
Definition: Dominguero (n.) – a working man who enjoys going out to the countryside or beach, typically with his wife and children, on weekends.
Word origin: Spanish
Selenita
Definition: Selenita (adj.) – originating from the moon.
Word origin: Spanish
Bonus: Weird words with weird spellings
Asthma
The “th” in asthma is silent. If its spelling matched up with the pronunciation, asthma would be spelled “asma.”
Colonel
Now colonel is a tricky English word. Colonel is pronounced like “kernel.”
This word and its pronunciation used to confuse me so much as a glassy-eyed elementary school kid with spelling bee aspirations!
Indict
Indict is pronounced more like “indite.”
Mortgage
Mortgage is a word with a highly unusual pronunciation. First, the “t” is silent. Secondly, each “g” is pronounced differently.
If mortgage was spelled how it sounded it would look something like “morgej.”
