![]() Noun: Hullaballoo has been part of the English language since the middle of the 18th century. What’s all the shouting for? Why are you making such a kerfuffle? 2. It means to make a fuss or a bother, usually when people have different points of view. Noun :Kerfuffle has been around since the early 1800s and probably came from either Scottish Gaelic or Celtic Irish, the languages that were used historically in Scotland and Ireland. This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that youĬlick here to get a copy. ![]() Lucky for you, this post will introduce you to 30 weird English words that you should know! English is especially known for having a crazy vocabulary that can make things tricky for learners.Įven if you’ve mastered all the important grammar rules, slang words and idioms, weird English words come along and can still leave you feeling a bit confused! Sliced meat, pickles, peanut butter you name it, it’s “pålegg.30 Weird English Words You Won’t Believe Exist! This gem from Norway refers to pretty much anything that can be put between two slices of bread. Sandwich-enthusiasts everywhere can rejoice over this invaluable new addition to their lexicons. The Japanese word “age-otori” sums this regretful experience up and translates to “looking worse after a haircut.” Pålegg – Norwegian Most of us know the feeling of sitting in the hairdresser’s chair post-cut, staring wild-eyed at our new and not-so-improved reflection in the mirror. A “gattara” is a woman, often old and somewhat lonely, who devotes herself entirely to stray cats. The popular millenial term “cat lady” has long-since had a firm home in the Italian language. “Chingada” translates to “a hellish, imaginary, faraway place where you send all those who annoy you.” Mildly alarming but ultimately understandable. In Mexico, people have a very specific location in which they envision their enemies. It’s worth noting that the Swedes have a thing for swimming in icy cold lakes during the winter, and, if you act like a “badruka,” you’ll usually end up getting pushed in by impatient friends. The Swedes have a word for when someone is very slowly and very reluctantly easing themselves into a body of water. ![]() Whilst it’s certainly an interesting term, it’s advisable to stick to friends who don’t make a habit of casually robbing you. This word describes the act of taking objects you desire from a friend’s house – by gradually “borrowing” all of them and not returning them. “Seigneur-terraces” refers to café-goers who occupy tables for hours while spending next to no money. ![]() This term is likely aimed at the infamously stingy, laptop-toting “global nomads” dotted across coffee shops around the world. Tricksters across the globe can rejoice: The act of tapping someone on one shoulder whilst actually standing on their opposite side has an official name in Indonesian: “Mencolek.” Translated as “pinching,” the classic term refers most often to the age-old playground prank. “Shemomedjamo” essentially means, “I accidentally ate the whole thing.” How’s that for relatable? Mencolek – Indonesian We all know the feeling of sitting around after a particularly filling meal, shaking our heads and clutching out stomachs, insisting that we couldn’t possibly eat another bite – before promptly stuffing our face with leftovers. The Germans have tenderly dubbed this “Kummerspeck,” which literally translates to “grief bacon.” Very fitting indeed. Most of us are familiar with the weight you gain during a particularly tough or stressful time. Whip these gems out at social gatherings and dinner parties and get ready to stun your company with your linguistic knowhow. Prepare to learn ten new and wonderfully specific words in ten different languages. No matter how elaborate the situation at hand may be, there’s probably a term for it out there somewhere – even if there’s no equivalent in your native language. Part of the magic of learning a new language lies within discovering peculiar and unique new words. ![]()
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