ADVERTISEMENT

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!

#1

Collywobbles

Meaning: icky feeling due to illness or anxiety.

Report

#2

Gobbledygook

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

Report

#4

Brouhaha

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

Report

#6

Flibbertigibbet

Meaning: a silly person who talks too much.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
aph1 avatar
Andy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As in the song "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" from The Sound of Music: How do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? How do you find a word that means Maria? A flibbertijibbet! A will-o’-the wisp! A clown!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Lackadaisical

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

Report

Add photo comments
POST
emilymrangel avatar
over it already
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

Whippersnapper

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

Report

Add photo comments
POST
abrahammarshall avatar
Onion Cutting Ninja
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

Dragooned

Meaning: coerce (someone) into doing something.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
megapod1949 avatar
Robert Trebor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Lollygag

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

Report

Add photo comments
POST
duesvolent90 avatar
Duesvolent90
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Shenanigans

Meaning: high-spirited or mischievous activity.

Report

#15

Bamboozle

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

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#17

Wassail

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

Report

#18

Quomodocunquizing

Meaning: making money in any way you can.

Report

#21

Bloviate

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

Report

Add photo comments
POST
sdaohrr avatar
Rod McCabe
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

Lickety-split

Meaning: at great speed.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
hallabaloo_meow avatar
Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#25

Woebegone

Meaning: sad or miserable in appearance.

Report

#27

Spondulicks

Meaning: money, cash.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
fredneobob90 avatar
Huddo's sister
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Hullaballoo

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

Report

Add photo comments
POST
hallabaloo_meow avatar
Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Nudiustertian

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

Report

#30

Doozy

Meaning: an extraordinary one of its kind.

Report

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