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
The day after tomorrow is called overmorrow.
#2 Interrobang
When you combine a question mark with an exclamation mark (‽), it is referred to as an interrobang.
#3 Petrichor
The way it smells after it rains is called petrichor.
#4 Crapulence
That sick feeling you get after eating or drinking too much is called crapulence.
#5 Defenestration
The action of throwing something or someone out of a window is called defenestration.
#6 Semordnilap
A word that means one thing forward and another backward is called semordnilap, for example, desserts and stressed.
#7 Semantic Satiation
The phenomenon of repeating a word and temporarily losing its meaning is called semantic satiation.
#8 Grawlix
A series of typographical symbols, such as $#!, used in text as a replacement for profanity is called a grawlix.
#9 Glabella
The space between your eyebrows is called glabella.
#10 Dysania
Finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning is called dysania.
#11 Aglet
The plastic or metallic coating at the end of your shoelaces is called an aglet.
#12 Desire Line
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
A cup holder for hot drinks is called zarf.
#14 Digitus Minimus
Your little toe or finger is called digitus minimus.
#15 Paresthesia
The tingling sensation you get when your foot’s asleep is called paresthesia.
#16 Griffonage
Illegible handwriting is called griffonage.
#17 Drupelets
The individual parts of raspberries and blackberries are called drupelets.
#18 Phosphenes
The sheen of a light that you see when you close your eyes is called phosphenes.
#19 Vocables
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
The cry of a newborn or small child is called a vagitus.
#21 Ereyesterday
The day before yesterday is called ereyesterday.
#22 Brannock Device
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.
#24 Punt
The indent on the bottom of a wine bottle is called a punt.
#25 Pilcrow
The paragraph mark (¶) is called a pilcrow.
#26 Tittle
The dot over an “i” or a “j” is called tittle.
#27 Aphthong
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
The crisp rustle of silk or a similar material that has been treated with dilute acid is called scroop.
#29 Googlegänger
A person who has the same name as you and is found by searching it on Google is called a Googlegänger.
#30 Wamble
When your stomach rumbles, that’s a wamble.
Aušrys Uptas
One day, this guy just kind of figured - “I spend most of my time on the internet anyway, why not turn it into a profession?” - and he did! Now he not only gets to browse the latest cat videos and fresh memes every day but also shares them with people all over the world, making sure they stay up to date with everything that’s trending on the web. Some things that always pique his interest are old technologies, literature and all sorts of odd vintage goodness. So if you find something that’s too bizarre not to share, make sure to hit him up!
