In our everyday lives, we use just a small part of our languages' vocabularies. This is understandable as words go out of use, and we don't use scientific names for things or words that are used by a specific group of people, like professional terminology. Sometimes we don't even realize that some things have names at all or that they could have a specific name because we're used to referring to that thing by describing it.
Not a lot of us spend our time reading through dictionaries, but if we did, we could find some really interesting words, like how would you call the day after tomorrow or the struggle to get out of bed in the morning. Bored Panda gathered a list of things that you may not have known had a name in English, so enjoy it, as broadening your vocabulary is always fun. Don't forget to upvote the words that you liked the most and comment down below how many of these you already knew!
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The day after tomorrow is called overmorrow.
In Croatia, Italy and Korea we have the words preksutra, dopodomani and (내일)모레 respectively, and they're very common in each language.
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In Afrikaans it's 'oormôre', derived from the Dutch word.
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But sadly "fernt" meaning last year, is more and more forgotten.
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I also knew this. And the day before yesterday is called "ereyesterday"
In Dutch too, even spelled the same. And eergisteren (ereyesterday or day before yesterday)
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In the Dutch language it's a very normal word to use, translated it's exactly the same as overmorrow.
We Danes use our equivalent ("overmorgen") just as readily as our "tomorrow" ("morgen"). We also have a noun for 24 hours. Furthermore, we distinguish clearly between the words for "evening" and "night" - we can't use the word "nat" to refer to an "aften" (spot the cognates) - which can prevent misunderstandings. When it comes to time-related words, English needs to get with the programme. :)
In Dutch we have the word 'overmorgen', which is commonly used to indicate 'overmorrow'.
I knew this already but I hate that word. My cousins say it all the time…
It's common to say this in Sweden, I'm glad I can use this in English aswell!
In Polish it is one of the most basic words - Pojutrze - which means aftertomorrow. I was shocked that other languages don't have similar common word.
In Polish “tomorrow” means „jutro” and “day after tomorrow” means “pojutrze” (literally “after tomorrow”).
English doesn't have words for "two days ago" or "two days from now". I bet they exist in other languages. In German, they do.
Germanic language family! Here in the Netherlands it's called overmorgen, literally overmorrow. Morgen is tomorrow, but also morning. Good-morrow old English for good morning.
But is there a word for "the next time we're at this place and/or doing this thing"? I want to be able to say "see you ____" to my co-workers and have it be correct whether it's Tuesday or Friday. I want to be able to say "we'll handle the XP ____" to my role-playing group and have it be correct whether we're skipping next week or not. It's frustrated me my entire life that I can't find a word that means this!
Sweden use it all the time , wouldnt be surpriced if the vikings are responsible for it 😀
Finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning is called dysania.
The phenomenon of repeating a word and temporarily losing its meaning is called semantic satiation.
That sick feeling you get after eating or drinking too much is called crapulence.
When you combine a question mark with an exclamation mark (‽), it is referred to as an interrobang.
A series of typographical symbols, such as $#!, used in text as a replacement for profanity is called a grawlix.
The action of throwing something or someone out of a window is called defenestration.
The plastic or metallic coating at the end of your shoelaces is called an aglet.
A path that is created in the grass by people walking on it because it is the shortest way is called desire line.
In Dutch is an "Elephants trail" for the trails that elephans carve out in jungles
The tingling sensation you get when your foot's asleep is called paresthesia.
I will still refer to it as, "the blood in my feet was replaced by sparkling wine" xD
A word that means one thing forward and another backward is called semordnilap, for example, desserts and stressed.
The sheen of a light that you see when you close your eyes is called phosphenes.
Phosphenes are caused by stimulation of your retina. No actual light is needed.
The metal thing used to measure your feet at the shoe store is called Brannock device.
The 'na na na' and 'la la la', which don't really have any meaning in the lyrics of any song, are called vocables.
Like in the song E=pro, where the chorus is, "Na na, nana na na na naaaa"
The dot over an "i" or a "j" is called tittle.
A letter or a combination of letters used in spelling the word but not pronounced is called an aphthong like "gh" in "knight" or in "fight."
The cry of a newborn or small child is called a vagitus.
When your stomach rumbles, that's a wamble.
bor·bo·ryg·mus | ˌbôrbəˈriɡməs | noun (plural borborygmi | -mī | ) technical a rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines.
A word or a phrase that is used mistakenly but in a plausible way for another word or phrase is called eggcorn.
A person who has the same name as you and is found by searching it on Google is called a Googlegänger.
The wired cage that holds the cork on a bottle of champagne is called an agraffe.
The chart you look at while taking an eye exam is called the Snellen chart.
I’m sure it’s named after some Snellen, but my brain wants to turn that into Smellen, which would be a word having scent-related overtones...
The crisp rustle of silk or a similar material that has been treated with dilute acid is called scroop.
The smalls strips of wood, plastic or metal in between separate panes of glass on a window are called muntins.
The tiny plastic thing placed in the middle of a pizza box is called a pizza saver.
The space between your nostrils is called columella nasi.
The armhole in clothes, where the sleeves are sewn, is called armscye.
A word or a phrase that reads the same way forward as it does backward is called a palindrome, for exmple, radar, level, madam.
A prong or sharp point like of a fork or antler is called tine.
The word for when you read an article but can’t retain all of what you just read is called undolegimus.
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I don't know how to add to this but the pea sized bit of toothpaste you add to the brush is called a Nurdle
I know all words are made up to some extent, but a lot of these are not actually official words.
Oooh I love these. Back to what we love about BP than the whole woke culture starting to creep through...
https://digitalbrolly.com/definition-of-branding-marketing-promotion-and-sales/
"...is called..." was used a lot but if no one has heard these words or uses them, are they really called this words? Kind of like if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it make a sound? Some are probably industry, or even company, specific jargon so I wouldn't consider those "official" words or definitions. The one about throwing people out windows would have made a bit of sense if it was "deplatforming". LOL
Wouldn't "Mucusites" be a much nicer word than "Snotites?" The latter word sort of makes me feel ill. Yeughhh....
I knew all of them but forgot them after reading them, I bet I will forget these by tomorrow.
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The word for when you read an article but can’t retain all of what you just read is called undolegimus.
Load More Replies... I don't know how to add to this but the pea sized bit of toothpaste you add to the brush is called a Nurdle
I know all words are made up to some extent, but a lot of these are not actually official words.
Oooh I love these. Back to what we love about BP than the whole woke culture starting to creep through...
https://digitalbrolly.com/definition-of-branding-marketing-promotion-and-sales/
"...is called..." was used a lot but if no one has heard these words or uses them, are they really called this words? Kind of like if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it make a sound? Some are probably industry, or even company, specific jargon so I wouldn't consider those "official" words or definitions. The one about throwing people out windows would have made a bit of sense if it was "deplatforming". LOL
Wouldn't "Mucusites" be a much nicer word than "Snotites?" The latter word sort of makes me feel ill. Yeughhh....
I knew all of them but forgot them after reading them, I bet I will forget these by tomorrow.
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