I asked Twitter for their favourite words from the English language. Here are some of the most beautiful suggestions, along with some of mine (including a handful of non-English ones that were too good to leave out)...
1.
Aquiver: Quivering, trembling.
Suggested by @MarkGrainger.
2.
Mellifluous: A sound that is sweet and smooth, pleasing to hear.
Suggested by @gaminette, @ImolaUnger.
3.
Ineffable: Too great to be expressed in words.
4.
Hiraeth: A homesickness for a home you can't return to, or that never was.
A Welsh word without direct English translation, and utterly beautiful. Thanks, Wales.
5.
Nefarious: Wicked, villainous, despicable.
Suggested by @samahrium.
6.
Somnambulist: A person who sleepwalks.
7.
Epoch: A particular period of time in history or a person's life.
Suggested by @carlie_dawn.
8.
Sonorous: An imposingly deep and full sound.
9.
Serendipity: The chance occurrence of events in a beneficial way.
Suggested by @jiangyin.
10.
Limerence: The state of being infatuated with another person.
11.
Bombinate: To make a humming or buzzing noise.
Suggested by @sophiespecial.
12.
Ethereal: Extremely delicate, light, not of this world.
13.
Illicit: Not legally permitted.
Suggested by @OhCarolineNo.
14.
Petrichor: The pleasant, earthy smell after rain.
Suggested by @TheGirlIncendio.
15.
Iridescent: Producing a display of rainbowlike colours.
16.
Epiphany: A moment of sudden revelation.
Suggested by @JemimahRH.
17.
Supine: Lying face upwards.
18.
Luminescence: Light products by chemical, electrical, or physiological means.
19.
Solitude: a state of seclusion or isolation.
20.
Aurora: dawn.
21.
Syzygy: an alignment of celestial bodies.
22.
Phosphenes: the light and colours produced by rubbing your eyes.
23.
Oblivion: the state of being unaware of what is happening around you.
24.
Ephemeral: lasting for a very short time.
25.
Incandescence: light produced by high temperatures.
26.
Denouement: the resolution of a narrative.
Suggested by @readbecka.
27.
Vellichor: the strange wistfulness of used bookshops.
Via.
28.
Eloquence: the art of using language in an apt, fluent way.
29.
Defenestration: the act of throwing someone out of a window.
30.
Sonder: the realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own.
Via.
31.
Effervescence: bubbles in a liquid.
32. And finally, a word that embiggens the soul:
Cromulent: appearing legitimate but actually being spurious.
Suggested by @Ankaman616.
Friendly reminder for the ~purists~ – all words were made up at some point.
Plus, many words in use in the English language were borrowed from other languages. They still count as being part of the English language...
If your favourite word isn't listed, add it below so others can enjoy it!
Loved this article and love words? See if you can pass a 5th grade spelling test:
