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 Petrichor
The way it smells after it rains is called petrichor.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Maria Eklind
#2 Overmorrow
The day after tomorrow is called overmorrow.
Image source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Shinji
#3 Dysania
Finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning is called dysania.
Image source: Healthline, megan ann
#4 Semantic Satiation
The phenomenon of repeating a word and temporarily losing its meaning is called semantic satiation.
Image source: Wikipedia, zorilla
#5 Crapulence
That sick feeling you get after eating or drinking too much is called crapulence.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, águahotels
#6 Interrobang
When you combine a question mark with an exclamation mark (‽), it is referred to as an interrobang.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Jeremy Keith
#7 Grawlix
A series of typographical symbols, such as $#!, used in text as a replacement for profanity is called a grawlix.
Image source: Merriam Webster, Threeboy
#8 Defenestration
The action of throwing something or someone out of a window is called defenestration.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Paul!!!
#9 Drupelets
The individual parts of raspberries and blackberries are called drupelets.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Su Yin Khoo
#10 Aglet
The plastic or metallic coating at the end of your shoelaces is called an aglet.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Eric T
#11 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.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Andrew
#12 Paresthesia
The tingling sensation you get when your foot’s asleep is called paresthesia.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Michael Coghlan
#13 Glabella
The space between your eyebrows is called glabella.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Leandro Scarano
#14 Griffonage
Illegible handwriting is called griffonage.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Christina Hendricks
#15 Semordnilap
A word that means one thing forward and another backward is called semordnilap, for example, desserts and stressed.
Image source: Wikipedia, Jenny Huey
#16 Digitus Minimus
Your little toe or finger is called digitus minimus.
Image source: Wikipedia, Wesley Fryer
#17 Phosphenes
The sheen of a light that you see when you close your eyes is called phosphenes.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, wim goedhart
#18 Brannock Device
The metal thing used to measure your feet at the shoe store is called Brannock device.
Image source: Brannock, Phillip Pessar
#19 Ereyesterday
The day before yesterday is called ereyesterday.
Image source: Wikipedia, kenkwsiu
#20 Zarf
A cup holder for hot drinks is called zarf.
Image source: Vocabulary, Angela CoffeeRank
#21 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.
Image source: Cambridge Dictionary, Francesco
#22 Tittle
The dot over an “i” or a “j” is called tittle.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, auntjojo
#23 Punt
The indent on the bottom of a wine bottle is called a punt.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Ruth Hartnup
#24 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.”
Image source: Your Dictionary, Hans Splinter
#25 Pilcrow
The paragraph mark (¶) is called a pilcrow.
Image source: Merriam-Webster
#26 Vagitus
The cry of a newborn or small child is called a vagitus.
Image source: Collins, Upsilon Andromedae
#27 Wamble
When your stomach rumbles, that’s a wamble.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Alena Getman
#28 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
#29 Googlegänger
A person who has the same name as you and is found by searching it on Google is called a Googlegänger.
Image source: Macmillan Dictionary, ethermoon
#30 Agraffe
The wired cage that holds the cork on a bottle of champagne is called an agraffe.
Image source: Wein.plus, Greger Ravik
#31 Snellen Chart
The chart you look at while taking an eye exam is called the Snellen chart.
Image source: Wikipedia
#32 Murder
A group of crows is called a murder.
Image source: Merriam-Webster
#33 Scroop
The crisp rustle of silk or a similar material that has been treated with dilute acid is called scroop.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, Paula Satijn
#34 Muntins
The smalls strips of wood, plastic or metal in between separate panes of glass on a window are called muntins.
Image source: Merriam-Webster
#35 Pizza Saver
The tiny plastic thing placed in the middle of a pizza box is called a pizza saver.
Image source: Wikipedia, stu_spivack
#36 Agelast
A person who never laughs is called agelast.
Image source: Merriam-Webster
#37 Columella Nasi
The space between your nostrils is called columella nasi.
Image source: Biology Online, Dan Zen
#38 Armscye
The armhole in clothes, where the sleeves are sewn, is called armscye.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, John Benson
#39 Palindrome
A word or a phrase that reads the same way forward as it does backward is called a palindrome, for exmple, radar, level, madam.
Image source: Merriam-Webster, 270862
#40 Tine
A prong or sharp point like of a fork or antler is called tine.
Image source: Cambridge Dictionary, waferboard
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