20 Unusual Words In English that You Didn’t Know Existed
Posted by There are all sorts of ways to make learning vocabulary enjoyable. You can play games, learn through songs or stories, and even use mnemonic devices to help you remember words better. But did you know you can also make it even more fun by adding a few unusual words in English to your repertoire?
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By exploring crazy, unusual words in English, you will not only make your vocabulary more colourful but also become more skilled at expressing your thoughts and ideas.
Below, you will find 20 odd, unusual words in English with meanings and examples that will enrichen your vocabulary beyond, well, words.
Unusual words in English to describe people
Learning new adjectives is always a good idea. It helps improve your communication skills, makes you sound smarter, and allows you to express your ideas more precisely.
Plus, let’s just face it. Using only “regular” or common words can make your language seem a bit boring!
Expand your vocabulary with these unusual adjectives:
1. Sanguine: feeling or showing hope and optimism.
“Despite the difficulties, he remained sanguine about the future of his business.”
2. Mercurial: characterized by sudden and unpredictable changes of mood.
“His mercurial temperament made it hard for him to hold down a job.”
3. Elysian: relating to heaven or the gods.
“She was so beautiful that she looked like she had just stepped out of an elysian field.”
4. Nefarious: very wicked or evil.
“The nefarious activities of the organisation were finally exposed to the public.
5. Janus-faced: having two faces, especially two that are completely different.
“She was a janus-faced individual, always putting on a façade in front of others.”
Unusual words in English to talk about feelings
If you’re often confused about your own feelings, don’t worry. It may not mean that you are too complicated even for yourself.
Maybe, you just lack the right vocabulary to express your emotions.
Here are 5 unusual words in English that you can use to talk about your most intense, deepest (definitely most specific) feelings:
6. Ennui: a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of interest.
“She was bored at work and her ennui was starting to affect her health.”
7. pathos: a quality that evokes pity, sympathy, or sorrow.
“The pathos of his story touched everyone in the room.”
8. sonder: the realisation that everyone has a life as complex and rich as your own.
“The more time he spent people-watching, the more he realised that everyone had their own unique story, and he started to feel sonder for them.”
9. ruminative: engaged in or inclined to deep and quiet thought.
“She was feeling a bit ruminative after her break-up and needed some time to herself.”
10. penumbral: dimly seen or felt; partially sensed.
“The penumbral feelings he had for his coworkers slowly turned into full-blown love.”
Unusual words in English related to the body
Do you ever feel the crazy urge to scratch your pinna while in a meeting?
No, I don’t mean that! In English, the word “pinna” refers to the cartilaginous projecting part of the external ear. In this section, we are going to cover unusual words in English for common body parts, as well as words for body parts that you didn’t know you had!
11. Hallux: the big toe.
“I stubbed my hallux and now it’s all bruised.”
- Philtrum: the vertical groove in the centre of the upper lip.
“Have you ever noticed that some people have a longer philtrum than others?”
13. Popliteal space: the hollow behind the knee.
“I get a cramp in my popliteal space when I sit for too long”
14. Glabella: the space between the eyebrows.
“I always get sweat on my glabella when I’m nervous”
15. Risorius: a facial muscle that pulls the corners of the mouth sideways.
“The risorius is often used in smiling, as well as in some facial expressions of fear or anxiety”
Unusual words in English to talk about art
“I’ve never liked J.K. Rowling. I find a lot of instances of deus ex machina in the climax of her books.”
If someone said this in front of you, would you know what they mean?
Next time people start talking about film, literature, and music around you, it will be your turn to impress them by using these unusual English words to discuss art.
16. Deus ex machina (Latin): a plot device whereby a seemingly inextricable problem is suddenly and conveniently resolved by the unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability, or object.
“The deus ex machina ending of the book left a lot to be desired”
17. Anachronism: something that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, especially something representing an old fashion or style in a modern setting.
“The film was set in medieval times, but there were many anachronisms throughout.”
18. Verisimilitude: the appearance of truth or reality.
“Despite the play’s low budget, it had a high degree of verisimilitude.”
19. Dissonance: a lack of harmony.
“The dissonance between the music and the lyrics was very jarring.”
20. Juxtaposition: an act or instance of placing two things close together or side by side, especially for contrast or comparison.
“The juxtaposition of the two images in her installation creates a stark contrast.”
As you can see, using complex vocabulary can make your learning more fun and interesting, and it can also help you to sound smarter. However, don’t use complex words just for the sake of using them! Always make sure that they are appropriate for the context, and that they add value to your interactions!
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I hope you enjoyed our list of unusual words in English! If you want to keep learning interesting vocabulary alongside a qualified native teacher, send us a message now and we’ll pair you up with one of our tutors for a customised trial lesson.