90 Weirdest Words in English (And What They Mean!)

English is a fascinating language, filled with words that sound strange, look unusual, and have meanings that are hard to believe. Some words make you laugh, while others make you wonder how they even exist. If you love discovering new words or just enjoy the quirks of language, this list will take you on a journey through some of the weirdest words in English.

Words evolve over time, and many of these odd words have been around for centuries. Some come from old English, while others have traveled from different languages and found a place in modern conversations. Even though some of them sound funny, they serve unique purposes, and once you know them, you’ll want to use them in everyday life!

This collection of 90 strange words is not just for fun—it’s a great way to expand your vocabulary, impress your friends, or even make your writing more creative. If you want to boost your language skills, these words will help you do just that. Let’s explore the weirdest words and their surprising meanings!

🌀 Strange and Funny-Sounding Words

Illustration of a boy clutching his stomach with a thought bubble showing food. Text reads: "BORBORYGMUS - the rumbling sound your stomach makes when you're hungry."

Borborygmus – The rumbling sound your stomach makes when you’re hungry.
Lollygag – To waste time or be lazy.
Gobbledygook – Complicated or meaningless jargon.
Flibbertigibbet – A silly, talkative person.
Snollygoster – A smart but untrustworthy politician.
Cattywampus – Something that is crooked or out of alignment.
Widdershins – Moving in the opposite direction of the usual.
Skedaddle – To run away quickly.
Malarkey – Nonsense or meaningless talk.
Bumfuzzle – To confuse or baffle someone.

🐛 Odd Words Related to Nature and Animals

Tan background with bold text: "A funny name for stomach pain or butterflies in your stomach." Above, a label reads "Collywobbles." To the right, an illustration of a worried person clutching their stomach. Wavy and star decorations add a playful tone.

Quire – A collection of 24 or 25 sheets of paper.
Tittynope – The small leftovers of food on a plate.
Collywobbles – A funny name for stomach pain or butterflies in your stomach.
Nudiustertian – Refers to the day before yesterday.
Gubbins – Useless scraps or gadgets.
Blatherskite – Someone who talks too much nonsense.
Taradiddle – A petty lie or ridiculous nonsense.
Wabbit – Scottish slang for being tired or exhausted.
Vexillology – The study of flags.
Mumpsimus – A person who stubbornly sticks to a wrong belief.

🦄 Words That Sound Like They Belong in a Fantasy World

A beige graphic with the word "Gardyloo" at the top. Below, a girl places a trash bag in a recycling bin. Text reads, "An old warning shouted before throwing waste out of a window."

Defenestration – The act of throwing someone out of a window.
Rigmarole – A long and complicated process.
Discombobulate – To confuse someone.
Gardyloo – An old warning shouted before throwing waste out of a window.
Absquatulate – To leave quickly and secretly.
Collywobbles – Another fun way to say stomach pain.
Bumbershoot – A playful word for an umbrella.
Tergiversate – To change sides or be evasive in speech.
Zounderkite – An old insult meaning a foolish person.
Lugubrious – Something that looks or sounds sad.

💡 Unusual Words for Everyday Things

Text reads "Callipygian: A fancy word for someone with a well-shaped backside." Illustration of a woman in wide-legged pants on the right. Beige background with black decorative lines suggests elegance.

Pandiculation – Stretching and yawning at the same time.
Crapulence – Feeling sick after eating or drinking too much.
Doodlesack – A funny way to say bagpipes.
Gongoozler – Someone who enjoys watching boats go by.
Callipygian – A fancy word for someone with a well-shaped backside.
Cockamamie – Ridiculous or absurd.
Higgledy-piggledy – All mixed up or disorganized.
Fartlek – A type of running workout (but yes, it sounds hilarious!).
Petrichor – The fresh smell of rain hitting the ground.
Jiggery-pokery – Dishonest or sneaky behavior.

🎭 Words That Sound Made Up but Are Real

"Illustration of a girl studying math with an open book. Text reads 'Zenizenzenzic, an old math term meaning something raised to the 8th power.' Decorative wavy line corners."

Frippery – Fancy or unnecessary decoration.
Slubberdegullion – An old insult for a messy or rude person.
Bibble – To drink loudly.
Cloff – The space between your fingers and toes.
Dactylonomy – Counting on your fingers.
Mugwump – A person who remains neutral in politics.
Xertz – Drinking something very quickly.
Zenzizenzizenzic – An old math term meaning something raised to the 8th power.
Quomodocunquizing – The act of making money in any possible way.
Gadzookery – Using outdated words in speech or writing.

🌍 Weird Words from Different Languages in English

Text on a beige background reads "The giddy feeling of excitement when something romantic happens (Filipino)." On the right, an illustrated couple smiles.

Schadenfreude – Taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune (German).
Torschlusspanik – Fear of missing out on opportunities (German).
Tsundoku – Buying books but never reading them (Japanese).
Mamihlapinatapai – A look between two people that means something unspoken (Yaghan).
Pochemuchka – Someone who asks too many questions (Russian).
Kummerspeck – Weight gained from emotional eating (German).
Bakku-shan – A woman who looks better from behind (Japanese).
Kilig – The giddy feeling of excitement when something romantic happens (Filipino).
Backpfeifengesicht – A face that really needs to be slapped (German).
Yūgen – A deep, mysterious beauty of the universe (Japanese).

⚡ Words That Make You Sound Smart

Illustration of a person with red hair, wearing a green shirt, hand on chest. Text reads "A person who flatters others for personal gain." The word "sycophant" is highlighted above. Decorated with abstract line art.

Sesquipedalian – A person who uses long words.
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis – The longest word in English (a lung disease).
Antediluvian – Something really old-fashioned.
Persnickety – Someone who is fussy or hard to please.
Soliloquy – Speaking thoughts aloud when alone.
Sycophant – A person who flatters others for personal gain.
Ubiquitous – Something that is everywhere.
Quixotic – Wildly unrealistic or impractical.
Sesquipedalian – A person who loves long words.
Obfuscate – To make something unclear or confusing.

😆 More Weird and Wacky Words!

Illustration of an energetic person with arms raised, a full battery icon overhead. Text reads "A young person who is full of energy." Calm beige background.

Nincompoop – A silly or foolish person.
Gobemouche – Someone who believes everything they hear.
Fiddledeedee – An old way of saying “nonsense!”
Whippersnapper – A young person who is full of energy.
Rigamarole – A long, complicated process.
Kerfuffle – A small, silly argument.
Dingus – A word for something when you forget the name.
Squee – A sound of extreme excitement.
Hoity-toity – Acting snobby or too fancy.
Lackadaisical – Lazy or lacking enthusiasm.

🎉 Final 20 Bizarre Words!

Illustration of a smiling girl in pink and blue next to text: "A word for an object when you don’t know its name." Header reads "Thingamajig." Playful tone.

Rambunctious – Energetic and noisy.
Lickety-split – Very fast.
Dillydally – To waste time.
Flummoxed – Extremely confused.
Jackanapes – A mischievous or rude person.
Skullduggery – Dishonest behavior.
Thingamajig – A word for an object when you don’t know its name.
Hullabaloo – A loud commotion.
Hobnob – To socialize with important people.
Faff – To waste time doing unimportant things.

Final Thoughts

English is full of weird, funny, and unusual words, and this list proves it! Whether you’re looking for a fancy insult, a funny-sounding phrase, or a way to impress people, these words will make you stand out.

Which weird word is your favorite? Let me know in the comments! 🤓✨

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