40 Weird Words from Around the World

People around the globe speak more than 6500 languages. Every language has its attributes, vocabulary, and glossary list. There are weird words in every language which are common among that particular language people speak. The commonly spoken words of one language could be weird and strange for people from other languages.

Shakespeare is accredited for coining some wild terms and words. These terms which were strange words once, are quite common these days. However, in the initial days during the 1400s, people had reservations regarding new words.

There is a list of strange and weirdest words from different languages and most of them are from English. These words were quite common in the old days and people find these weird to use and quote now. A few of the words are regularly used among English speakers and the non-speakers have never heard about these.

Let us read on to find out the list of the weirdest words that you have already read and the ones that are new to you.

List Of Top Weirdest Words

There are numerous weird and strange words in the world. These could be different coming from different regions. It is not possible to list down every weird word. However, compiling a few words that sound strange can be listed for the people who like to enjoy their leisure time finding new information. 

Let us read on to find out the list of the weirdest words that you have already read and the ones that are new to you.

1. Bumfuzzle:

The term refers to a state of confusion and perplexing situation, the word is from old English dumfoozle. This word comes from Old English and you might have heard your grandma shouting this word.

2. Cattywampus:

The word stands for disarray. Something which is not across from some building. For example, the bank is cattywampus from the police station. The term is quite common in the midland southern side of the United States.

3. Gardyloo:

Gardyloo is a Scottish term. It is quite funny and a little gross too. The people from Edinburgh used to shout out this term to warn the people out there on the streets before dumping their slop buckets.

4. Taradiddle:

The word people use to exaggerate and show off. The long tales of bravery are a lie. The term goes quite right to define Fishermen’s exaggeration especially when they don’t even have the fish. Fishermen often show off how long and big fish they once caught which is not right always.

5. Snickersnee:

Snickersnee stands for a long and dangerous knife. Although reading the word can deliver a funny and possibly cute impression, however, same is not the case. The term came into use in the 1700s in some cut-and-thrust fighting. The word has become quite obsolete now.

6. Widdershins:

Many people still use it in many poems and newly published books. This word is used in the reference when there is a wrong movement or counterclockwise movement. The word was very much in use in the earlier days. It is not much in use now.

7. Collywobbles:

The word has its derivation from the Latin phrase Cholera morbus. Hence telling its connection with the disease we all know as Cholera. Elders still use this word from Old English. However, the background of this term is quite dark.

8. Gubbins:

This is a word that stands for something that is not very valuable or important. This could also refer to a gadget and device. According to some experts, the term also refers to a silly person.

9. A bibliophobia:

This word represents a bookaholic. The fear of running out of readable material is bibliophobia. The word is about the people who are always running to the nearby bookshops to buy something new to read.

10. Bumbershoot:

Bumbershoot is a fun word referring to an umbrella. It is about holding the umbrella and expressing the Bumbershoot as described in many books and Disney movies.

11. Lollygag:

The word has a history back to 1868. The word stands for activities like messing around or killing time. It also refers to something useless and not serious. So, people often see how someone is not serious and just lollygagging around.

12. Flibbertigibbet:

This is another fun word that refers to someone who is silly and keeps on talking without any interruption. Weird isn’t it? So the word represents someone doing something that does not make sense.

13. Malarkey:

Malarkey is a collection of words that are insincere and also refer to foolish talk. The word surfaced in 1920 for the first time and it is still in use by many people. It is indeed a weird word too.

14. Pandiculation:

The word represents when muscles are pulled or get rigid as the result of stretching after waking up. It is really uncomfortable at times. The word also describes a combination of being dizzy, stretching, and yawning.

15. Wabbit:

This weird word refers to the feeling of being drained or exhausted. It shows the expression of tiredness. However, people are not familiar with the word much and find it quite weird.

16. Snollygoster:

This weirdly pronounced word is quite interesting. People use it for politicians who do things for their motives rather than following their principles. So, the political meetings are the right events to use this word and look for people’s reactions.

17. Erinaceous:

This is the word that people use to quote the person’s resemblance to a hedgehog. So, if someone uses this term, one should be vigilant enough to retaliate.

18. Bibble:

Bibble is that noise that people make eating and drinking in your favorite restaurant around you. Now this one is more annoying than being weird. Isn’t it?

19. Nudiustertian:

Its meaning is astonishing and people could find it confusing as well. The word is there to use for mentioning the day before yesterday. So this is the right word to quote for the day before yesterday.

20. Quire:

Quire stands for two dozen sheets of paper. People use it rarely these days. However, the interesting thing to note is that there are single words used for long phrases.

21. Ratoon:

Ratoon talks about the growth and gradual shoot which belongs to the root of the plant. This happens a lot during summer and spring. The plants show gradual progress.

22. Xertz:

Xerts is an activity of grabbing a cool drink of lemonade or iced tea and gulping it down greedily. It is to quench your thirst during a hot summer afternoon. Ever heard it before?

23. Zoanthropy:

This is more interesting than weird. This is a feeling of delusion where people start thinking and assuming that they belong to some animal class and they have changed into animals.

24. Pauciloquent:

This is for someone who says few words and is less talkative. The term is for someone who doesn’t like to utter long sentences and rather likes to be brief and precise.

25. Bloviate:

This word is right to quote for someone who talks and conversations are shallow and without any real meaning. Some people keep on talking for the sake of it and they don’t focus on meaning or sense.

26. Borborygm:

The word states the feeling of hunger and the sounds everyone talks about on an empty stomach, which is quite weird. Isn’t it? So probably it’s better to simply say that you are hungry and don’t have to speak about all this.

27. Brouhaha:

The word sounds funny and equally weird. It states an expression. Many people still use it. It talks about a mega event or an uproar. People also use it to cheer and support their favorite team during a match or so.

28. Absquatulate:

This weird word describes when someone leaves the place abruptly after getting offended by something.

29. Comeuppance:

This word tells us about someone getting what he deserves to get. It is used in both senses and mostly negatively. The word was quite common from 1920 till the 1960s. Many movies have also quoted this word.

30. Donnybrook:

The word and its meaning could be disturbing. It refers to an argument or heated debate. The word Donnybrook is also the name of a place in Dublin, Ireland. Interesting and weird it is, equally.

31. Nincompoop:

As the word itself describes, it tells about someone irrational and foolish. The word surfaced back in the 1950s and people used it quite much before it became obsolete. However, many people who are fond of old English still use this word to call someone silly.

32. Kaizen:

Kaizen represents a gradual improvement. This Japanese term has inspired many Western businessmen. The entrepreneurs keep it in mind and believe in constant improvement.

33. Ya’aburnee:

This is an Arabic word and strangely gets in use in the state of sadness and love. The literal meaning in English is “you bury me” The word represents the urge to die before the death of someone dear because living without them is next to impossible.

34. Kyōiku mama:

This is a Japanese word that also has an affiliation with Japanese culture. The word gets used to represent the Japanese mothers who motivate and force their children to excel in the academic field and come home with medals and trophies. It is a stereotypical character in Japan.

35. Yaourter:

The word comes from the strangest words of the French language. French people use this word to slam someone who tries to sing in a foreign language and ends up ruining it and torturing others with bad singing skills. The word is a French term for “gibberish”

36. Kummerspeck:

This is a German word. The word represents all those pounds that one puts on as a result of emotional indulging. People often confuse it with some kind of food. However, it is not food, but rather the weight that one gains as a result of eating a particular type of food. So for all emotional bingers, next time, do think about this word and the weight before gorging on to cater to your stress and sadness.

37. Akihi:

Akihi refers to an absent state of mind. It is a funny Hawai’ian word. It is an activity of getting instructions about doing something and forgetting about it as soon as you try to implement those instructions.

38. Irusu:

The word represents the introverts. This is a Japanese term, and it has funny usage. This refers to an act of ignoring the knock at the door just to avoid interaction with the people.

39. Toodle Pip

Here is the weirdest final word that tops the list, and it is Toodle Pip. It comes from the United Kingdom and foreigners could find it weird. This word is humorously used to say goodbye. The word surfaced during the 20th century for the first time. People in the UK also utter “Toodle-oo” for saying goodbye.

The term ‘Toodle’ as they say imitates the noise and bell of a horn. People used it during departure time in 1900. Pip is a French term that means ‘see you later’

What is the weirdest word in the world?

Now as you have read a lot of weird and strange words listed above with a brief introduction. Which word do you find is the weirdest in the world? These words could have a connection with a few other words and can make one remember a pair of words. Also, many of these can also refer to similar situations we have been in and could have spoken about these. However, with an upgraded vocabulary, you can always speak these words in the future.

Final Thoughts:

Every language has some weird words and phrases. This content includes around forty-two words mostly from the English language and a few from other languages as well. The readers can go through the content and asses their weird words’ vocabulary.

Resources:

1. Native American Words in the English Language
2. How to Find French Classes in the US?
3. Comparing Chinese and Japanese Culture
4. Ethiopian Languages and Their Whereabouts