Although English has a very rich vocabulary, many people focus only on learning the most common words. When learning a language, instead of limiting your vocabulary to only “necessary” words, learning rare and interesting words from time to time can increase your motivation and help you use the language more creatively. Would you like to expand your English vocabulary and use the language in a more creative way? In this blog, we will explore 50 English words that you have probably never heard before.
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50 English Words You Don’t Know
Here are 50 interesting English words that sound rare and that you have probably never heard before!
| English Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rum peeper | Mirror (old slang term) |
| Contumelious | Rude and insulting |
| Obambulate | To wander around |
| Hugger-mugger | Secrecy, confusion, or disorder |
| Serendipity | A pleasant surprise, finding something good by chance |
| Vex | To annoy or irritate |
| Jentacular | Related to breakfast |
| Tittynope | A small leftover piece of food |
| Bibble | To eat or drink noisily, to chatter |
| Flub | To make a mistake |
| Accismus | Pretending not to want something |
| Anthropomorphize | To give human qualities to animals or objects |
| Behoove | To be necessary or appropriate |
| Fatous | Silly, foolish |
| Imperious | Bossy, commanding, arrogant |
| Melange | A mixture or blend |
| Noisome | Bad-smelling |
| Odious | Extremely unpleasant, hateful |
| Sagacious | Wise, having good judgment |
| Solipsist | A person who believes only their own mind is sure to exist |
| Synecdoche | A figure of speech where a part represents the whole |
| Visceral | Deeply felt, instinctive |
| Zeugma | A figure of speech where one word applies to two others in different ways |
| Scrumptious | Very delicious |
| Gobbledygook | Complicated, hard-to-understand language |
| Berserk | Out of control, extremely angry |
| Anon | Soon, shortly (old usage) |
| Billow | To move like waves |
| Clamant | Loud and demanding |
| Dainty | Small and delicate |
| Argent | Silver, silver-colored |
| Lollygag | To waste time, to delay |
| Taradiddle | A small lie, nonsense |
| Verklempt | Overcome with emotion |
| Sesquipedalian | Using long words |
| Darkling | In the dark |
| Coney | Rabbit (old term) |
| Widdershins | In a counterclockwise direction |
| Somber | Dark, gloomy, serious |
| Kakorrhaphiophobia | Fear of failure |
| Sonder | The realization that everyone has a life as complex as your own |
| Hullabaloo | Loud noise |
| Lollapalooza | Something outstanding or impressive, also a large event |
| Kerfuffle | Small problem or fuss |
| Chimerical | Imaginary; unrealistic |
| Billet-doux | A love letter (old/literary term) |
| Redamancy | Mutual love |
| Crestfallen | Disappointed, sad |
| Dumfounded | Extremely surprised, shocked |
| Elixir | A magical or medicinal liquid believed to cure or improve something |
Frequently Asked Questions About 50 English Words You’ve Never Heard Before
Now that we learned about the words, let’s look at some questions about them.
Why should I learn rare English words?
Learning rare words can help you express yourself more clearly and creatively.
Are these words used in daily conversation?
Some of them are rare, but others can appear in books, movies, or formal writing.
How can I remember these new words?
You can remember them by using them in sentences and practicing regularly.
Is it necessary to learn difficult and rare words to speak English well?
No, but learning new and interesting words can improve your vocabulary and confidence.
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