30 Specific Names For Things You Most Like Didn’t Even Know Had Names
It doesn’t take a linguist to know that the English language can be a real pain at times, especially when you’re trying to describe something and just can’t find the right words for it. But what if I told you there are words to describe those things – it’s just that they’re used so rarely, people hardly know they exist.
Turns out that the English language is a lot more vivid than you imagined – and today we have prepared you a collection of rarely used yet real words used to describe specific things, that you’ll be surprised to find out even have names in the first place. From the plastic tips of shoelaces to the smell after the rain, check out a collection of names for things or occurrences that you probably never heard before in the gallery below!
#1 Overmorrow
Image source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary
The day after tomorrow is called overmorrow.
#2 Interrobang
Image source: Merriam-Webster
When you combine a question mark with an exclamation mark (‽), it is referred to as an interrobang.
#3 Petrichor
Image source: Merriam-Webster
The way it smells after it rains is called petrichor.
#4 Crapulence
Image source: Merriam-Webster
That sick feeling you get after eating or drinking too much is called crapulence.
#5 Defenestration
Image source: Merriam-Webster
The action of throwing something or someone out of a window is called defenestration.
#6 Semordnilap
Image source: Wikipedia
A word that means one thing forward and another backward is called semordnilap, for example, desserts and stressed.
#7 Semantic Satiation
Image source: Wikipedia
The phenomenon of repeating a word and temporarily losing its meaning is called semantic satiation.
#8 Grawlix
Image source: Merriam Webster
A series of typographical symbols, such as $#!, used in text as a replacement for profanity is called a grawlix.
#9 Glabella
Image source: Merriam-Webster
The space between your eyebrows is called glabella.
#10 Dysania
Image source: Healthline
Finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning is called dysania.
#11 Aglet
Image source: Merriam-Webster
The plastic or metallic coating at the end of your shoelaces is called an aglet.
#12 Desire Line
Image source: Merriam-Webster
A path that is created in the grass by people walking on it because it is the shortest way is called desire line.
#13 Zarf
Image source: Vocabulary
A cup holder for hot drinks is called zarf.
#14 Digitus Minimus
Image source: Wikipedia
Your little toe or finger is called digitus minimus.
#15 Paresthesia
Image source: Merriam-Webster
The tingling sensation you get when your foot’s asleep is called paresthesia.
#16 Griffonage
Image source: Merriam-Webster
Illegible handwriting is called griffonage.
#17 Drupelets
Image source: Merriam-Webster
The individual parts of raspberries and blackberries are called drupelets.
#18 Phosphenes
Image source: Merriam-Webster
The sheen of a light that you see when you close your eyes is called phosphenes.
#19 Vocables
Image source: Cambridge Dictionary
The ‘na na na’ and ‘la la la’, which don’t really have any meaning in the lyrics of any song, are called vocables.
#20 Vagitus
Image source: Collins
The cry of a newborn or small child is called a vagitus.
#21 Ereyesterday
Image source: Wikipedia
The day before yesterday is called ereyesterday.
#22 Brannock Device
Image source: Brannock
The metal thing used to measure your feet at the shoe store is called Brannock device.
#23 Eggcorn
A word or a phrase that is used mistakenly but in a plausible way for another word or phrase is called eggcorn.
Image source: Merriam-Webster
#24 Punt
Image source: Merriam-Webster
The indent on the bottom of a wine bottle is called a punt.
#25 Pilcrow
The paragraph mark (¶) is called a pilcrow.
Image source: Merriam-Webster
#26 Tittle
Image source: Merriam-Webster
The dot over an “i” or a “j” is called tittle.
#27 Aphthong
Image source: Your Dictionary
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.”
#28 Scroop
Image source: Merriam-Webster
The crisp rustle of silk or a similar material that has been treated with dilute acid is called scroop.
#29 Googlegänger
Image source: Macmillan Dictionary
A person who has the same name as you and is found by searching it on Google is called a Googlegänger.
#30 Wamble
Image source: Merriam-Webster
When your stomach rumbles, that’s a wamble.
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