When you want to say a mouthful with just one word, you can do it with “Mamihlapinatapai.” Coming from the Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego, it refers to “a look that […]
Learn the Meaning of Mamihlapinatapai and Say a Mouthful
Do You Need Your Own Growlery?
Have you ever found yourself in a bad mood and wished you had a place where you could go to get away from everyone? Perhaps you live with someone who is prone […]
Are You Afraid of Not Being Good Enough?
Atelophobia. Does it bother you if you don’t know the meaning of that word? Does that somehow make you feel inadequate or less than perfect? Does the very notion of being imperfect […]
Grawlix, Plewds, and Briffit: the Literary Language of Cartoons and Comic Strips
Regular readers of Commonplace Fun Facts are well versed in the meaning and use of some very unusual words. Even the most learned lexicologist may stumble over words such as briffit, grawlix, […]
A Word for Self-Inflicted Haircuts
As of this writing, much of the world is forced to stay at home, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With no easy access to barbershops and hairstylists, many of us are contemplating […]
Practicing Pandiculation
How often do you pandiculate? You may not be familiar with the word, but you almost certainly do it on a regular basis. Pandiculation is the act of stretching and yawning at […]
The 27th Letter and Why it was Removed From the Alphabet
Every schoolchild knows there are 26 letters in the English alphabet. It seems self-evident that this fact must be as old as the language itself. Surprising as it may seem, as recently […]
Coffee So Strong That it Shapes a Language
Coffee has been integral to Turkish culture for over 500 years. Turkish coffee is made by brewing finely-ground coffee beans, which are then left in the beverage when it is served. The […]
Words Created by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was unquestionably one of the greatest influencers of English literature. He was also an unequaled contributor to the English language itself. Many of the words you have used in the […]
Show Your Smile for a Nice Nurdle
Have you ever wondered what to call that blob of toothpaste you squeeze onto your toothbrush? Wonder no more, knowing that you are brushing your teeth with a “nurdle.” Read about more […]
What Do You Call an Individual Spaghetti Noodle?
Have you ever fished a single spaghetti noodle out of your plate of pasta and wondered about its proper name? Ponder no more. That single strand of pasta is classified as a […]
The Amazing Law of Word Usage in Languages
An interesting phenomenon occurs in languages, and it doesn’t seem to make a difference which language you study. Whichever word is the second-most commonly used will show up in normal usage half […]
Turning Words on their Heads
If you want to write the words “upside down” upside down, the words “umop apisdn” will give you an upside-down mirror image. Just to avoid confusion, the upside down “e” resembles a […]
A Word for Book Collectors
Do you have a tendency to collect books but never get around to reading them? The Japanese have a word for you: tsundoku. Read more words we need. Read more fun facts about […]
Peruse Perplexing Pangrams Perfectly Penned to Please
Anyone who has taken a class on typing (or keyboarding, as it is now known), has encountered the sentence, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” In typing that word, […]
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