The "favorite words" thread!

[Jolt]

I've seen threads like this on other forums so decided to start one here. What are everyone's favorite words? Here are some of mine:

tachycardia
defenestrate
discombobulated
shenanigans

How about everyone else?

[Lifesgreat]

Speaking of favorite words, I love this little skit. Just listen to the words, you don't need to watch it. . . (the words are clean)


http://www.fireball20xl.com/slapdash/bb.swf

BTW, are those all medical germs in your post? :0

[Kitsune06]

My favorite words, just because they sound neat or are interesting...

Vacillate
orchidectomy
antidisestablishmentarianism
Floccinaucinihilipilification (because they're so long!)
jejunum
Ponderous
lucidity
surreality
ganglion

*pushes up thick glasses*

[Jolt]

Speaking of favorite words, I love this little skit. Just listen to the words, you don't need to watch it. . . (the words are clean)


http://www.fireball20xl.com/slapdash/bb.swf

BTW, are those all medical germs in your post? :0

Only one is a medical term (tachycardia--means an abnormally high heart rate). "Defenestrate" means to throw (something/someone) out the window; you're probably familiar with "discombobulated" and "shenanigans".

[missymaya]

One of my favorite words just because of what it represents and its very simple pronunciation:

PIE!!!!!!:D
Just brings a smile to my face.

[Zen]

One of my favorite words just because of what it represents and its very simple pronunciation:

PIE!!!!!!:D
Just brings a smile to my face.

MMM...PIE!

I have lots of favorite words, I think words are fascinating. Off the top of my head-

sanguine
monkeyshines
hullaballoo

[Aggie_Ama]

Hullabaloo Caneck Caneck... Sorry Zen you post got my humming the Aggie War Hymn. Hehe

My words:
Ginormous
Pinche (yes I know it is a bad word)
juggernaut

[Thorn]

susuration
onomatopoeia
anemone

But susuration is my overall favorite, particularly since I've found cognates in several latin languages--ah, everyone gets to play that one.

[LBTC]

mmmm floor pie
unexplained bacon

oh, wait, that's for the favourite Simpsons quote thread.


ubiquitous
intransigent
serendipitous

:p

can I have some pie now?

H&B
~T~

[Wahine]

Frisky - you have to say it out loud. It's really fun to say and has fun implications.

My husband's 3 favorite words to describe me:

recalcitrant
intractable
obstreporous (sp?)

[margo49]

concomitant
intimate
together
indirectly
relevant/irrelevant
serenditpitous

and of course
the fabric of the Space-Time Continuum
if we are allowed phrases

[mimitabby]

what if your favorite words are in another language?

La Bellezza (the beauty)

BICICLETTA (guess what that means)

[salsabike]

euphonious

[Popoki_Nui]

syzygy. [SIZZ-uh-gee] Hands down my all-time fave. :D It's a real word. Honest! In astronomy, we use it to describe an alignment of celestial bodies such as when the Earth, moon, and Sun line up during an eclipse. Can be used to describe an alignment of other planets as well.

[kelownagirl]

Kit I was going to say antidisestablishmentarianism too.

I have some but can't think of them right now.


Some of my current faves are:

weekend
spring break
summer break

:D

[bikerz]

gloaming (I'm on a campaign to bring this word back into common usage)

also:
rather and shall

in Spanish:
la madrugada

[Bruno28]

palaver
stooshie
numpty



Meaning fuss, minor altercation, idiot - for all you non-Scots speakers out there. :D :D

Numpty is Scotland's favourite word apparently. Makes me proud to be Scottish!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6520353.stm

[sgtiger]

Pamplemouse = grapefruit (French)

I love saying this word.:D Unfortunately I do not have many uses for it.:o :rolleyes:

[lph]

I like phrases too, as well as long strange words. I read of a writer who liked to spike her writing with "big latinate bombs" - that's me. ;)

Defenestration is an amazing word. Imagine having a special word for throwing someone out of a window.

And THANK YOU for teaching me "syzygy"! I shall have to make a special effort to include it in my vocabulary.

Humongous
Vainglorious (not exactly sure what that means, to tell you the truth)
Bizarre
Clunky

[Jolt]

Just thought of a Spanish word that I think sounds cool: marcapasos (pacemaker)

[SouthernBelle]

milkshake

[Thorn]

milkshake

Chocolate (is there really any other word? :)

[northstar]

I tend to like gross words. This makes me a good fit for teaching middle schoolers.

I love the word rotundity.

German has some of the best words, though.

Schleim = phlegm
Scheinwerfer = headlight (literally means light thrower)
Verstopfung = a really uncomfortable digestive condition...note the word "stop" in the middle there.
Durchfall = the opposite of Verstopfung...note the word fall in the middle there...by the way, durch translates to through. You do the math.

I love words that sound like what they mean. German's great for that. :)

[Popoki_Nui]

I tend to like gross words. This makes me a good fit for teaching middle schoolers.
German has some of the best words, though......

Fahrvergnügen! Remember that word from the VW commercials? Not sure what it means, exactly, but it's a great word to use when a wrench slips, or a mis-aimed hammer hits your thumb. ;)

[Jolt]

I tend to like gross words. This makes me a good fit for teaching middle schoolers.

I love the word rotundity.

German has some of the best words, though.

Schleim = phlegm
Scheinwerfer = headlight (literally means light thrower)
Verstopfung = a really uncomfortable digestive condition...note the word "stop" in the middle there.
Durchfall = the opposite of Verstopfung...note the word fall in the middle there...by the way, durch translates to through. You do the math.

I love words that sound like what they mean. German's great for that. :)

Those are good ones! Speaking of gross words that sound like what they mean, how about ipecac? Doesn't it just remind you of someone retching?

[ShubieGA]

stracciatella (chocolate chip gelato)

[singletrackmind]

Horse feathers!

Dog sandwich.

enigma

stoic

bromidic

y'all

rutabaga

Finest kind

wicked good

That's just a couple few of 'em.

Oh yeah,

couple few

[SadieKate]

I just go frabjous at the syzygy when my neurogolist says "no change."

Then I go enjoy the colors of California hillsides at gloaming.

Callooh! Callay!

[northstar]

SK,

I was chortling in my joy as I went galumphing down the road on my way to work today. Though there were a few times I went snicker-snack through the traffic. (OK, not really, but I love those words. I make my 7th graders read that poem every year.)

[HappyAnika]

lugubrious

[missymaya]

Here are some more of my favs:
studebaker
quintessential
osmosis
trebuchet
quiche

Simple but pleasant words,at least to me.

[divingbiker]

capitulate

(I've had to do way too much capitulating lately.)

[northstar]

Tailwind?

Margarita?

[SouthernBelle]

capitulate

(I've had to do way too much capitulating lately.)

I only like that word when it's the other side doing it.

[mimitabby]

well, there's furbelow..
and then I like words like escutcheon.. and derailleur

[Deanna]

arugula ("it's a VEG-E-TA-BLE" - I only saw My Blue Heaven once, but I love that line)
prosciutto
murmur
crapanola

[Popoki_Nui]

....or supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. (even though the sound of it something quite atrocious).

[singletrackmind]

Beamish boy

(was quoting some of that there poem this a.m.)

[pansypalmetto]

Forced into My First Ever Team Estrogen Post by the evile (a favorite "word" of mine) Sadie Kate:

Evile
Ginormous
La De Frickin Da
(although, oddly, I do not care for "frickin" outside of this phrase all that much)

That's it for now.

[maillotpois]

Forced into My First Ever Team Estrogen Post by the evile (a favorite "word" of mine) Sadie Kate:

Evile
Ginormous
La De Frickin Da
(although, oddly, I do not care for "frickin" outside of this phrase all that much)

That's it for now.

'sabout frickin time!

[mimitabby]

Forced into My First Ever Team Estrogen Post by the evile (a favorite "word" of mine) Sadie Kate:

Evile
Ginormous
La De Frickin Da
(although, oddly, I do not care for "frickin" outside of this phrase all that much)

That's it for now.

a warm welcome to you, Pansy!

none of those obstreperous, incorrigible, reprobates like raleighdon here!

[Veronica]

That was ginormously evile of SK. :D

I prefer freakin' myself.

Welcome to the joint Pansy.

V.

[Jolt]

a warm welcome to you, Pansy!

none of those obstreperous, incorrigible, reprobates like raleighdon here!

And we don't allow any shenanigans that would make things discombobulated--anyone caught doing such will be defenestrated (and I'm sure the mere thought of this treatment would cause tachycardia)!

[Jolt]

And one more thing: We don't want some numpty causing a stooshie with her palaver about "vehicular cycling" vs. other techniques! (This happens a lot on another forum)

[Zen]

SK,

I was chortling in my joy as I went galumphing down the road on my way to work today. Though there were a few times I went snicker-snack through the traffic. (OK, not really, but I love those words. I make my 7th graders read that poem every year.)

I remember my seventh grade teacher reading that aloud to us, I think it's my favorite poem. All that drama and action!


One of my most un-favorite favorite words is
BRASSIERE

[mimitabby]

what poem is that?
I hate brassiere too.

[teigyr]

Favorite word? Ensure, when it's used correctly. Bothers me when people write insure when they mean ensure.

Least favorite word? MOIST. I don't know why but it disturbs me greatly :D

[Zen]

Mimi, that would be this (http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/jabber/jabberwocky.html) poem

[Mr. Bloom]

I hate "R U R A L"; I just can't ennuciate it without sounding like RuRRRRWral Ugh!!

I also detest the phrase "Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary...". Kinda makes me think I'm being snowed...

Favorite Words:
- Silver :)
- flummoxed

[mimitabby]

Mimi, that would be this (http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/jabber/jabberwocky.html) poem

thanks! I clearly never got past the 3rd stanza! (gulp)

[Zen]

Rural Juror (a la 30 Rock)
Is someone feeling better? :p

[Bruno28]

And one more thing: We don't want some numpty causing a stooshie with her palaver about "vehicular cycling" vs. other techniques!

Very good! You speak Scots well.

:D :D :D

[Bron]

Fahrvergnügen! Remember that word from the VW commercials? Not sure what it means, exactly, but it's a great word to use when a wrench slips, or a mis-aimed hammer hits your thumb. ;)

It means "enjoyment of driving". Supposedly enhanced by having a German car!

Best German word I have met so far was in our house contract: Altlastenverdachtsflächenkataster - the English translation takes up a whole paragraph.

Favourite Welsh word: stwnch - such a great way of describing mashed potato.

DH´s favourite has to be PIE

Bron

[Duck on Wheels]

schlmiel [sh-l-meeyul]
and schlmazl [sh-l-mahzul]

A schlmiel is a clumsy oaf, and a schlmazl is the unfortunate character oafed upon (if oaf can be used as a verb). E.g. at a restaurant: the schlmiel might be a waiter who spills soup on a customer, that customer then being the schlmazl of the moment.

[Jolt]

schlmiel [sh-l-meeyul]
and schlmazl [sh-l-mahzul]

A schlmiel is a clumsy oaf, and a schlmazl is the unfortunate character oafed upon (if oaf can be used as a verb). E.g. at a restaurant: the schlmiel might be a waiter who spills soup on a customer, that customer then being the schlmazl of the moment.

Those are good--Yiddish does have some amusing ones! And don't forget schmutz!

[Jolt]

Very good! You speak Scots well.

:D :D :D

Thanks! :)

[Duck on Wheels]

My maternal grandfather's favorite was the German word for tank:
schutzengrabenvernichtungsautomobil
(artillery trench destroying vehicle)

He said it illustrated how the language had been a factor in the Germans losing both world wars. Just compare the time it takes to give the same order in German and English:

Send tanks!
Bie mir die schutzengrabenvernichtungsautomobils gesenden! (or something like that, I don't actually know German)

[Zen]

German is such a lilting, musical language isn't it?

[DrBee]

schlmiel [sh-l-meeyul]
and schlmazl [sh-l-mahzul]



Weren't those words used in the Laverne & Shirley opening theme?


A few of my favorites:

persnickity
couillon (dumba$$)
framousse (a big 'ol frown that kids are good at making, adults also qualify)

The last 2 are cajun. I'm not sure on the spelling - cajun is one of those things that's spoken and not always written - I often accuse Mr. Bee and his dad of making up words as they go along. I seem to keep hearing new words.

[mimitabby]

Weren't those words used in the Laverne & Shirley opening theme?


A few of my favorites:

persnickity
couillon (dumba$$)
framousse (a big 'ol frown that kids are good at making, adults also qualify)

The last 2 are cajun. I'm not sure on the spelling - cajun is one of those things that's spoken and not always written - I often accuse Mr. Bee and his dad of making up words as they go along. I seem to keep hearing new words.


couillon = culo italian rude word for your buttocks :D

[7rider]

Favorite words?

"Sale"
and even better still...
"Free"

[Wahine]

Where is my vorpal sword??

So I read Brassiere as Brasserie and thought, yeah, I like that word too. Tells you where my mind is.

Another favorite from my Sheffield born Grandma...

"Holy shamilligans, we're going to have a donny brook." Not sure of the spelling, I only ever heard her say it.

[margo49]

"Donnybrook" is one word and Irish for stooshie (see Bruno28's post)
My parents used it in New Zealand, although it was "a real donnybrook" meaning a more serious one I guess.

[RolliePollie]

I hate "R U R A L"; I just can't ennuciate it without sounding like RuRRRRWral Ugh!!



Too funny...I've always hated the work "rural" as well...impossible to say. I used to work for the County Office of Procurement & Contracts...and I can't say "procurement." So I just called it "Purchasing" because that's what we did.

I get a kick out of words that you can accidentally spell wrong but then they become another word. These can be dangerous (and hilarious) words. Example: At work, I once wrote a contract for janitorial services for the Pubic Defender's Office. Spell checker can't tell the difference between Pubic and Public! Unfortunately we also have County departments called Public Health, Public Guardian, and Public Authority.

Another word I just discovered which also has this nightmarish spelling issue is "pines." Switch the vowels...you'll see what the problem is.

[Starfish]

This isn't a real word, but when we were kids, a friend of mine used to hear our family talk about moral fiber. One day, she tried to say it and is came out: morbal fire.

I always felt that the weighty implication of something called "morbal fire" to be much more intriguing!

[Jolt]

This isn't a real word, but when we were kids, a friend of mine used to hear our family talk about moral fiber. One day, she tried to say it and is came out: morbal fire.

I always felt that the weighty implication of something called "morbal fire" to be much more intriguing!

Nice--spoonerisms can make for a good laugh! That reminded me of one my mom did once: she meant to say "if the shoe fits" and it came out "if the foo sh!ts"!! We must have been cracking up for a good ten minutes after that one!

[Starfish]

it came out "if the foo sh!ts"!!

Did she finish the saying with..."wear it!" ?? ;)

[Jolt]

And there's always making up big technical sounding terms for everyday things--here are a couple of my favorites: "cerebral flatulation" and "accidentally evacuating the legumes". (Can you figure out what common expressions these mean?)

EDIT: And how about, instead of saying somebody is a jerk, saying they're the third derivative of displacement (or second derivative of velocity)? Wow, this is bad. I may be a nerd, but I don't normally make physics jokes--usually they're more medical!

On a related note, instead of calling someone an @$$hole, they're an anal sphincter!

And then there's what one of my bio professors in college would say: "Feces occurs".

[Jolt]

Did she finish the saying with..."wear it!" ?? ;)

No, she didn't finish the sentence. We were making cookies around Christmas time, and I spilled some flour, and she made some comment, to which I replied "are you saying I'm a klutz?", and then she said (or meant to say) "Well, if the shoe fits..." and that's when she goofed it up and we couldn't get serious again for a while!

[Zen]

Hadn't completely caught up with this thread, some funny stuff here.

all I have is willy-nilly and careening

[Mr. Bloom]

OK, it's not a total hijack since others have interjected 'poetry'...but here's my favorite limerick (and Silver will attest that I've known it for years)

A canner exceedingly canny
One morning remarked to his granny
A canner can can anything that he can
But a canner can't can a can, can he?

It makes total sense, which still amazes me 35 years after I first read it...

[Zen]

A canner can can a can if she is a canny canner.
And has a hammer.

[withm]

syzygy. [SIZZ-uh-gee] Hands down my all-time fave. :D It's a real word. Honest! In astronomy, we use it to describe an alignment of celestial bodies such as when the Earth, moon, and Sun line up during an eclipse. Can be used to describe an alignment of other planets as well.

Wow - that would be a great scrabble word if only I could remember it (and get the right letters) ...

[RoadRaven]

Wow... great thread!!!
Caloo, calay!!!

I think we need to add to this reportoirre though...

facinorous (it means extremely wicked... as in TimTam indulgment :cool: )


dasypygal - how do I get this in a sentence? I have been trying for 4 years! It means... hairy buttocked!

Oh, and SGTiger... we have a Pamplemouse Tree - you can enquire after my Pamplemice :p any time you feel the urge to use 'the word'

[lph]

dasypygal - how do I get this in a sentence? I have been trying for 4 years! It means... hairy buttocked!


heh-heh-heh... if you scoot over to bike journal you'll find just the thread to use this word in :D

I dare you! ;)

[eclectic]

Undulates and all variations; Undulation, undulating - I just love how that word rolls of my tongue and there is a scene in Disney's Fantasia that comes to mind everytime I say it.

[Hub]

Random
Chocolate
puppy
bucket
y'all
cyclobenzaprine
goober
fixin'

[PinkBike]

conundrum

see: dilemma

just kinda flows, doesnt it

my favorite three little words?: "It's Fat Free"

[Jolt]

Another nice technical term for a common expression..."up an unsanitary tributary without the proper means of propulsion" for "up sh** creek without a paddle"!!

[Starfish]

panache

[Dr. Liz]

My maternal grandfather's favorite was the German word for tank:
schutzengrabenvernichtungsautomobil
(artillery trench destroying vehicle)

He said it illustrated how the language had been a factor in the Germans losing both world wars. Just compare the time it takes to give the same order in German and English:

Send tanks!
Bie mir die schutzengrabenvernichtungsautomobils gesenden! (or something like that, I don't actually know German)

Waffenstillenstahentag (it's been years since I studied German, so I may have misspelled that). If I remember correctly, it is Armistice Day - literally, The Day the Weapons Stood Still.

But if I get to pick a name as my favorite word? Vercingetorix.

It just rolls off your tongue. I SO want to name our next dog Vercingetorix, but it might be a little tough in obedience school! ;)

[margo49]

What does it mean?

[Dr. Liz]

Vercingetorix, d. 46 B.C., leader of the Gauls, a chieftain of the Arverni. He was the leader of the great revolt against the Romans in 52 B.C. Julius Caesar, upon hearing of the trouble, rushed to put it down. Vercingetorix was, however, an able leader and adopted the policy of retreating to heavy, natural fortifications and burning the Gallic towns to keep the Roman soldiers from living off the land. Caesar and his chief lieutenant Labienus lost in minor engagements, but when Vercingetorix shut himself up in Alesia and summoned all his Gallic allies to attack the besieging Romans, the true brilliance of Caesar appeared. He defeated the Gallic relieving force and took the fortress. Vercingetorix was captured and, after gracing Caesar's triumphal return to Rome, was put to death.

(thanks to www.reference.com - too lazy to type it all up myself! :o )

The guy was one of the first 'barbarians' to make the Romans sit up and take notice. But more importantly, he's got a COOL name!!!! It just sort of rolls off the tongue! (Much more cool than Caesar, too, if you ask me!)

[NJBikeGal]

Enunciate!

Brought to you by the morons who zoom past you in their cars, yelling stupid stuff out the window, but all we hear is "SJAODJKAAARRRGGGHHH"

Yes, I'm sure that you think the profanities that you are spewing out the window at the cyclist panting her way through interval training is hilarious...but if I'm going to join in the fun...ENUNCIATE! :)

[Zen]

Seduce

Just seeing it written and what it implies...i like it.

[PinkBike]

quintessential - "the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form" (www.m-w.com).

as in, Lance IS the quintessential bicyclist