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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!

#1

40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The way it smells after it rains is called petrichor.

Merriam-Webster , Maria Eklind Report

Cori
Community Member
4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's one of my favorite smells on the planet!

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    #2

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The day after tomorrow is called overmorrow.

    Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary , Shinji Report

    Shrek Bunny
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Everyone needs to know this

    Daria B
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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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    Joran Quinten
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A very commonly used word in Dutch

    Random Panda
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Afrikaans it's 'oormôre', derived from the Dutch word.

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    Nubis Knight
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Übermorgen... common use in Germany.

    F. H.
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But sadly "fernt" meaning last year, is more and more forgotten.

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    Arctic Fox Lover
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I also knew this. And the day before yesterday is called "ereyesterday"

    Helmut Kok
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    common in Danish "overmorgen"

    Zaza
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Dutch too, even spelled the same. And eergisteren (ereyesterday or day before yesterday)

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    Earl Grey
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So today is undermorrow?

    Derek Clark
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In the Dutch language it's a very normal word to use, translated it's exactly the same as overmorrow.

    kjorn
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    so that movie should've been called: "Overmorrow"

    Hannah Edwards
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’m using this first chance I get.

    Maja Lange
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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. :)

    Zaza
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So do we Dutch, 24 hours is an etmaal

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    Stephen Etordeu
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Dutch we have the word 'overmorgen', which is commonly used to indicate 'overmorrow'.

    Dirk Leyers
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Still often used in Dutch. "Overmorgen"

    Unnamed Hooman
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I knew this already but I hate that word. My cousins say it all the time…

    Birma Gustafsson
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's common to say this in Sweden, I'm glad I can use this in English aswell!

    May Day
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Övermorgon" in Swedish, nothing new about that word here.

    Nic Soderman
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's very common in Sweden. Övermorgon, two days after today. 😊

    Emilia Przyczyna
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    Anna Popis-Witkowska
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Polish “tomorrow” means „jutro” and “day after tomorrow” means “pojutrze” (literally “after tomorrow”).

    Mariele Scherzinger
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    A.J Milne
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    so it's not tomorrow's tomorrow? got it.

    Johanne Trudeau
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nope, didn't know this one either...

    Soon
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's common in Norwegian as well "overmorgen".

    Ueda
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The equivalent term "après-demain" is frequently used in French.

    strawberrywhite
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Holnapután" - often used in Hungarian

    Sunshine Sunshine
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    Todd Hollfelder
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder if the legendary Alex Trebek knew some of these

    Zaza
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Day before yesterday is ereyesterday We use both as a standard in Dutch (well, translated of course)

    Robin DJW
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's a new one for me. Thanks!

    Michigan Guy
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    or, the day after tomorow, in common parlance. cheeze azz..

    juztme
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here in the Netherlands we use that a lot. Overmorgen...

    Parmeisan
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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!

    Alloydog
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Finnish "ylihuomenaa": "yli"- over/above/beyond + "huomenaa": tomorrow. "over-tomorrow"

    Jo Choto
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is it underyesterday then?

    Panda Kicki
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sweden use it all the time , wouldnt be surpriced if the vikings are responsible for it 😀

    Steve Barnett
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    'But it proved unpopular with the audience at the test screening'

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    #3

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name Finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning is called dysania.

    Healthline , megan ann Report

    Cori
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Then I suffer from chronic dysania.

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    #4

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The phenomenon of repeating a word and temporarily losing its meaning is called semantic satiation.

    Wikipedia , zorilla Report

    Cori
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to do that with the word purple when I was a kid.

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    #5

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name That sick feeling you get after eating or drinking too much is called crapulence.

    Merriam-Webster , águahotels Report

    Giles McArdell
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Interesting, same word for politician's speaking.

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    #6

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name When you combine a question mark with an exclamation mark (‽), it is referred to as an interrobang.

    Merriam-Webster , Jeremy Keith Report

    #7

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name A series of typographical symbols, such as $#!, used in text as a replacement for profanity is called a grawlix.

    Merriam Webster , Threeboy Report

    Steve Barnett
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It’s f#!king good to know that this s#!t had a f#?cking name.

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    #8

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The action of throwing something or someone out of a window is called defenestration.

    Merriam-Webster , Paul!!! Report

    Animal Lover
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Has it happened enough to need a name?! 😨

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    #9

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The individual parts of raspberries and blackberries are called drupelets.

    Merriam-Webster , Su Yin Khoo Report

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    #10

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The plastic or metallic coating at the end of your shoelaces is called an aglet.

    Merriam-Webster , Eric T Report

    glowworm2
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Phineas and Ferb has an entire episode devoted to teaching this word.

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    #11

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name A path that is created in the grass by people walking on it because it is the shortest way is called desire line.

    Merriam-Webster , Andrew Report

    Joran Quinten
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Dutch is an "Elephants trail" for the trails that elephans carve out in jungles

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    #12

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The tingling sensation you get when your foot's asleep is called paresthesia.

    Merriam-Webster , Michael Coghlan Report

    Arctic Fox Lover
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I will still refer to it as, "the blood in my feet was replaced by sparkling wine" xD

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    #13

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The space between your eyebrows is called glabella.

    Merriam-Webster , Leandro Scarano Report

    Earl Grey
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not exactly. It’s the area between the eyebrow ridges and above the nose where the underlying bone is slightly depressed.

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    #14

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name Illegible handwriting is called griffonage.

    Merriam-Webster , Christina Hendricks Report

    Tuna Fish
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My students are happy I don't comment on their essays w/my handwriting. #ds106 #penatweet

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    #15

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name A word that means one thing forward and another backward is called semordnilap, for example, desserts and stressed.

    Wikipedia , Jenny Huey Report

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    #16

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name Your little toe or finger is called digitus minimus.

    Wikipedia , Wesley Fryer Report

    #17

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The sheen of a light that you see when you close your eyes is called phosphenes.

    Merriam-Webster , wim goedhart Report

    Gossameringue
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Phosphenes are caused by stimulation of your retina. No actual light is needed.

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    #18

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The metal thing used to measure your feet at the shoe store is called Brannock device.

    Brannock , Phillip Pessar Report

    #19

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The day before yesterday is called ereyesterday.

    Wikipedia , kenkwsiu Report

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    #20

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name A cup holder for hot drinks is called zarf.

    Vocabulary , Angela CoffeeRank Report

    #21

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The 'na na na' and 'la la la', which don't really have any meaning in the lyrics of any song, are called vocables.

    Cambridge Dictionary , Francesco Report

    Arctic Fox Lover
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like in the song E=pro, where the chorus is, "Na na, nana na na na naaaa"

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    #22

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The dot over an "i" or a "j" is called tittle.

    Merriam-Webster , auntjojo Report

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    #23

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The indent on the bottom of a wine bottle is called a punt.

    Merriam-Webster , Ruth Hartnup Report

    Mumchkin
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Somehow I knew this I just wouldn't have been able to tell you it before seeing it here. I feel like maybe I read it in a book or it was in a crossword.

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    #24

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name 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."

    Your Dictionary , Hans Splinter Report

    David Becker
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ''' like "kn" in "knight" or "gh" in "knight."

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    #25

    The paragraph mark (¶) is called a pilcrow.

    Merriam-Webster Report

    Peppermallow
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A group of them is known as a murder of pilcrows

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    #26

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The cry of a newborn or small child is called a vagitus.

    Collins , Upsilon Andromedae Report

    Earl Grey
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That child has a very pronounced glabella.

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    #27

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name When your stomach rumbles, that's a wamble.

    Merriam-Webster , Alena Getman Report

    iblowsheep
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    #28

    A word or a phrase that is used mistakenly but in a plausible way for another word or phrase is called eggcorn.

    Merriam-Webster Report

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    #29

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name A person who has the same name as you and is found by searching it on Google is called a Googlegänger.

    Macmillan Dictionary , ethermoon Report

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    #30

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The wired cage that holds the cork on a bottle of champagne is called an agraffe.

    Wein.plus , Greger Ravik Report

    #31

    The chart you look at while taking an eye exam is called the Snellen chart.

    Wikipedia Report

    Mary Rose Kent
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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...

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    #32

    A group of crows is called a murder.

    Merriam-Webster Report

    ButterScot
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Two crows are an attempted murder.

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    #33

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The crisp rustle of silk or a similar material that has been treated with dilute acid is called scroop.

    Merriam-Webster , Paula Satijn Report

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    #34

    The smalls strips of wood, plastic or metal in between separate panes of glass on a window are called muntins.

    Merriam-Webster Report

    Earl Grey
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now I know the difference between muntins and mullions.

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    #35

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The tiny plastic thing placed in the middle of a pizza box is called a pizza saver.

    Wikipedia , stu_spivack Report

    Karl Baxter
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought it was garden furniture for mice 😉

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    #36

    A person who never laughs is called agelast.

    Merriam-Webster Report

    David Butler
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not pronounced "age-last", but "ei-jeh-last".

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    #37

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The space between your nostrils is called columella nasi.

    Biology Online , Dan Zen Report

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    #38

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name The armhole in clothes, where the sleeves are sewn, is called armscye.

    Merriam-Webster , John Benson Report

    iBlank
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    where did the general put his armies?

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    #39

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name A word or a phrase that reads the same way forward as it does backward is called a palindrome, for exmple, radar, level, madam.

    Merriam-Webster , 270862 Report

    #40

    40 Interesting Words For Things You Probably Never Knew Had A Name A prong or sharp point like of a fork or antler is called tine.

    Cambridge Dictionary , waferboard Report