I'm always out looking for weird, beautiful things
Pam Houston
According to an estimate conducted in 2022, over 1.35 billion in the world's population speaks English; that's 17% of the people on Earth! Nevertheless, it is essential to state that the majority of those fluent in English are not native speakers.
Around 373 million speakers are native, making it the third-largest language by number of native speakers after Mandarin and Spanish.
English has such a far-reaching influence that it has been adopted as the language for business, work and communications worldwide.
English is nowadays widely spoken and understood across the seven continents. It is very rare to meet someone who has no prior knowledge of English. Through television shows, movies, songs, and classes taught at school, everyone knows a few words of English such as 'Hello', 'Sorry', 'I love you', and 'Where's the bathroom?'
It is important to state that the popularity of English has led to a massive demand for ESL teachers; people want to speak the international language!
Opportunities to teach English language learners abroad in ESL programmes are plentiful. Many hiring agencies, companies, and schools often share the most significant requirement for being hired.
What is that? That the English language teacher has completed an accreditation such as the Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or TESOL certificate programme and has some experience teaching English tuition.
However, it is important to mention that in many countries around the world native language writing skills or stellar literacy abilities can also get you a job on the spot in many highly qualified schools or tutoring centres; which becomes an excellent opportunity to gain experience and see if teaching is your calling!
In today's article, Superprof will analyse some of the most bizarre and unusual English words and expressions from different English-speaking countries around the world that ESL teachers help their students understand.
Are you an English learner ready for a weird ride through the English language? I sure hope so!
Should ESL Teachers Introduce Unusual Words in English in the Classroom Setting?
To start things off it is essential to state that ESL teachers conduct English language classes in a way to support their students to master their listening, speaking, and reading and writing skills so that they may correctly acquire language proficiency.
Nevertheless, despite how talented the class is the complexities of the English language prove to be difficult for some; this will be especially true for language students with limited English skills.
Like all foreign languages, English vocabulary, grammar, conjugation, and expressions have some unique terms and meanings that may look very weird to a learner who does not speak English as his first language.
Furthermore, it is essential to state that some odd words in English are not used in conventional communication but are very heavily inculcated in the language and culture of English-speaking countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, Canada or Singapore.
Now the question arises for ESL teachers, should strange English words be taught during classes to students who are learning English as a second language?
The answer is an overwhelming YES!
Instead of viewing teaching uncommon words as a roadblock, ESL teachers are wise to introduce funny, weird and strange expressions to English language beginners to enhance language skills, the learning experience, prevent boring and overly intensive learning sessions, and finally, make language instruction more memorable.
While knowing unusual words in English is not a requirement on a final exam or a necessary step to becoming fluent in English, it would be a great mistake not to introduce some in ESL classes since they provide a great laugh that helps classmates bond and cultivate a mutual love for the English language.
The language learner should bear in mind that depending on which English-speaking country you visit or live in, the terminology will change.
For example as a native English speaker from Canada, even when I hear Australians, Brits, or Americans speak, I catch funny phrases that make little sense to me but are accepted in the local area; the words used in specific areas can be categorised as slang, idioms, expressions, words or phrases.
Since the English language has had such a far-reaching influence, certain expressions and accents are bound to be different from one place to the next.
Nevertheless, ESL teachers should embrace the wackiness of English and teach their students to love quirky words used in each English-speaking country.
LISTEN TO: "Why Is English Spelling So Hard", to encourage the learning and use of strange, unique or interesting words in English
All ESL teachers should remember that diversity is the spice of life and no one wants to learn a language without a little fun! And there is nothing more fun than our online English courses!
The Longest Words In The English Language
"Long words and complex sentences are intended to add importance to something unimportant."
Jack Mabley
When first learning a new language, long words are terrifying. Nevertheless, it is important to mention that in all foreign languages all around the world, there are concise words such as ‘I’ or ‘a’, and there are unavoidably long words that are a headache to write.
The average primary or secondary school teacher working with international students in cross-cultural education programmes wouldn’t introduce very rare words as they would surely intimidate an international student who possesses English as a second language.
The best ESL teachers surely know that the best strategy when educating students who speak languages other than English as a mother tongue is to ease them into the language slowly with short words to help them gain essential skills and confidence without getting too discouraged in the beginning.
However, today we are going to introduce curious ones to the longest words that can be observed in the English language.
Thankfully, it is important to mention that these unique English words are not mandatory to learn English and will not be a part of any ESL student's first English classes since they are not used in everyday verbal communication nor while reading or writing.
But let's have a little fun and analyse the following overwhelmingly long words featured in the English language:
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
This 36-letter word means… fear of long words. It combines words like “hippopotamus”, “monstrous”, “sesquipedalian”, and “phobia” to describe the dread of endless words. Quite ironic isn’t it, when the word in itself is one of the longest in the English language.
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
If you’re a Mary Poppins fan, you certainly know this word. Made popular by the beloved movie, it means that something is wonderful, extraordinary, or delightful.
Ex: This event was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious; I had so much fun!
Antidisestablishmentarianism
One of the longest words highlighted in the Oxford dictionary, it practically uses almost all of the letters in the alphabet and is 28 letters long.
The definition? It means to be against a movement of the separation of church and state. It's easier to describe than it is to read!
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Is a medical word that is probably used by no doctor. What does it mean? Well, the word is 45 letters long and can be understood as a type of lung disease.
Floccinaucinihilipilification
This word is 29 letters long and is defined in many dictionaries as something that has no value. Wouldn't it just be easier to say 'worthless'? I love English!
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Is one of the longest words to be found in the UK. It is 58 letters long and is a place in Wales. To make this word sound easier for citizens residing in Wales and other parts of the UK, it is usually abbreviated to Llanfair PG.
Gorsafawddacha'idraigodanheddogleddollônpenrhynareurdraethceredigion
Doesn't this word look like someone fell asleep on their computer and nosedived onto the keyboard? It's so long that your eyes hurt after reading.
What's the meaning of this fantastically long word? Well, this word is 63 letters long and is the name of a Welsh train station in the United Kingdom.
According to Wikipedia, in 2007 the name was changed to Golf Halt station; probably to avoid delays from having to say “you have now arrived in Gorsafawddacha'idraigodanheddogleddollônpenrhynareurdraethceredigion", and then a few minutes later having to say “you are now leaving Gorsafawddacha'idraigodanheddogleddollônpenrhynareurdraethceredigion.”
If you thought the five previously mentioned words were mind-boggling, the next word is going to blow your socks off!
So the last weird and long word has a countless amount of letters and is a medical term and a technical word which details the DNA of a virus. Want to know what is it?
The following is the longest word in the English language:
The longest word in the English language
Acetylseryltyrosylserylisoleucylthreonylserylprolylserylglutaminylphenylalanylvalylphenylalanylleucylserylserylvalyltryptophylalanylaspartylprolylisoleucylglutamylleucylleucylasparaginylvalylcysteinylthreonylserylserylleucylglycylasparaginylglutaminylphenylalanylglutaminylthreonylglutaminylglutaminylalanylarginylthreonylthreonylglutaminylvalylglutaminylglutaminylphenylalanylserylglutaminylvalyltryptophyllysylprolylphenylalanylprolylglutaminylserylthreonylvalylarginylphenylalanylprolylglycylaspartylvalyltyrosyllysylvalyltyrosylarginyltyrosylasparaginylalanylvalylleucylaspartylprolylleucylisoleucylthreonylalanylleucylleucylglycylthreonylphenylalanylaspartylthreonylarginylasparaginylarginylisoleucylisoleucylglutamylvalylglutamylasparaginylglutaminylglutaminylserylprolylthreonylthreonylalanylglutamylthreonylleucylaspartylalanylthreonylarginylarginylvalylaspartylaspartylalanylthreonylvalylalanylisoleucylarginylserylalanylasparaginylisoleucylasparaginylleucylvalylasparaginylglutamylleucylvalylarginylglycylthreonylglycylleucyltyrosylasparaginylglutaminylasparaginylthreonylphenylalanylglutamylserylmethionylserylglycylleucylvalyltryptophylthreonylserylalanylprolylalanylserine.
As a native speaker of English, even I require some special education or at least some tutoring by a highly qualified English language teacher to learn to read those words.
So I hope that brings a smile to your face to know that it is not necessary to memorise the previously stated words since you will most likely never have to say, read or write these significant words.
If you tried, you would probably make lots of mistakes in English that will discourage you from continuing to acquire fluency.
Now, what about unusual English words and expressions? In the following subheadings, we will consider the most quirky words and phrases used in the largest English-speaking countries of the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and India.
Unusual Words in English and Expressions from the UK
The UK is home to approximately 60 million of the 373 million native English speakers. Home to the dialect of 'British English', citizens of the UK utter words and expressions that are truly unique to the culture of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Without further ado, we will consider some of the most uncommon English words currently and previously used in the United Kingdom.
Unusual Words In UK English
The following are the most weird words in English that are said by UK-citizens:
| Unusual English Words from the UK | Origin/Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kerfuffle | Adopted from Scottish and Irish; means "what is all the fuss about" or "why is it so noisy." | What is all the kerfuffle? |
| Ragamuffin | From the Middle Ages; refers to a person wearing rags or dirty clothes, often scruffy or poorly dressed. | Tuck your shirt in, you look like a ragamuffin. |
| Gibberish | Widely recognized; means unintelligible speech or writing, utter nonsense. | That man over there only speaks gibberish. |
| Toodle-oo | Old-fashioned way of saying goodbye; delightful to pronounce. | Toodle-oo, I’ll be off in a bit. See you soon! |
| Codswallop | British slang for nonsense; not related to fish despite "cod" in the word. | Some say he’ll be the next President. Codswallop! |
| Limerence | Describes a state of romantic attraction with obsessive thoughts and desire for reciprocation. | She saw him a few times, and her feelings evolved into limerence. |
| Snog | Quirky term meaning to kiss someone affectionately. | They were snogging right in front of her house. |
| Brolly | Informal term for an umbrella. | Don’t forget your brolly; it’s raining outside. |
| Skive | Informal British word for being absent from school or work without permission. | Maria has skived school again today. |
Bizarre Expressions
The following are some of the most complex, funny, and odd expressions uttered by UK citizens:
This resulted in a state of distress and worry. Ex: When I didn’t hear from you I started to have kittens and thought about what could have gone wrong.
Ex: I was really cheesed off when she told me she would arrive thirty minutes late.
Weird English Words and Expressions Used in the United States
Since various Americanisms can be analysed, we will consider the strangest English words and expressions used by citizens of the United States.
'American English' is the most widely spoken. Of all official English-speaking countries, the United States is the one that boasts the most native speakers with over 245 million according to recent estimates.
Rare Words in US English
The following are just some examples of the strange English words used by Americans that are not widely recognised elsewhere:
Zonked
A word that means extremely tired or exhausted. Ex: I was zonked after last night's party.
Sneakers
Called tennis shoes or running shoes in other English-speaking countries, sneakers is a word commonly said by Americans. Ex: My sneakers are very dirty after yesterday's run.
Sweet
While in many places this word means something high in sugar, in the US 'sweet', is said continuously by young ones to refer to something brilliant or cool. Ex: That jump you took snowboarding was really sweet.
Gobbledygook
A word that originates from the USA and is inspired by the sound a turkey makes. It is synonymous with 'gibberish' and practically means something nonsensical and unintelligible.
Ex: Financial terms are gobbledygook for me.
Cattywampus
While its origin is a bit blurry, this 19th-century American slang word is still used today, especially in the South. It means askew, but it also may refer to “an imaginary fierce animal”.
Ex. When I got back home I could see someone had entered during my absence. The shelves were all cattywampus, and some books were missing.
Uncanny Expressions
Americans have their fair share of expressions, and the following are the most common:
Americans usually use this expression in the context of career development.
Ex: Mike has got his foot in the door with that company.
The expression 'easy as pie' refers to something straightforward or without complications; Mark Twain used it in his beloved novel 'Huckleberry Finn.'
Ex: That game was as easy as pie.
Ex: I can't go over for dinner tonight, but let's take a rain check.
While it’s interesting to discover the weirdest words in UK English and US English, it can also be fun to compare words that have the same meaning but are different in terms of the actual word used.
| UK English Word | US English Word | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday | Vacation | A time spent away from work and home to relax |
| Chips | Fries | Potato slices fried until crispy |
| Trousers | Pants | A garment covering the body from the waist down with a separate part for each leg |
| Queue | Line | People aligned waiting for their turn |
| Lift | Elevator | A device inside some buildings that allows people to go up and down faster than using the stairs |
| Biscuit | Cookie | A small baked treat, typically sweet |
| Bank Holiday | National Holiday | A public holiday recognised by law |
Get outstanding English courses in London here.
Unusual Expressions and Words from Canada
Canada is the largest English-speaking country in terms of area but only boasts 20 million native English speakers from its population of 37 million; this is a result of the fact that many Canadians are native French speakers.
While many outsiders view Canada and the United States as two peas in a pod, Canada has a wide variety of strange English words and expressions that are not comprehended by Americans and can only be understood by Canadian citizens.
We will now examine some of the most unusual English words and phrases uttered by Canadians daily.
Strange English Words
The following are funny and unique words that are Canadian:
For example, 'It's a beautiful day' is a generic statement that can be turned into a question with the word 'eh', 'It's a beautiful day, eh?'
Also, to complicate things even more, a toonie is a two-dollar coin in Canada since Canadians like words that rhyme. Crazy, eh?
Ex: I have a loonie in my pocket.
Ex: I wore my tuque to go skiing.
But these fries are generously topped with cheese curds and gravy. Originating in Quebec, or at least this is what most sources suggest, it has become one of the most-known Canadian dishes.
Ex: After a long stroll in the cold, we can indulge in a delicious hot plate of poutine.
Ex: He’s such a keener, he knows the answers to everything.
The fun part is that some sources state that the word was first used outside Canada, to describe… Canadians.
Ex: The more I’ve seen how he behaved at dinner, the more I was convinced he was a hoser.
In Canada, a “mickey” is a 375 ml bottle of liquor.
Ex: If you go to the supermarket, buy some chips and a mickey of Baileys.
Funny Expressions
The following are ridiculously funny Canadian expressions that will confuse any ESL student:
🤵🏻♀️ Canadian tuxedo🤵🏻♀️ : it's not as fancy as it seems, a Canadian tuxedo is when a guy or girl is wearing jeans, and they slap a jean jacket on top of whatever shirt they are wearing. Classy, right?
Ex: Your girlfriend is rocking a Canadian tuxedo today.
∞ Double double: frequently uttered at Canada's most famous coffee shop, Tim Hortons, a double double means double the cream and double the sugar.
Ex: Can I get a double double, please?
Odd English Expressions and Unusual Words in English Used in Australia
Oceania features two predominantly English-speaking countries, Australia and New Zealand. However, in today's article, we will primarily focus on Australia, and will now consider some of the weirdest words in English commonly spoken by its citizens.
native English speakers are Australian
Quirky Words in Australia
The following are the most unusual words in English said by Aussies that make ESL learners question the English language:
| Unusal Words in Australia | Meaning and Context | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Barbie | Not a plastic doll young girls love to play with, a Barbie is an Australian word for barbecue. Ever heard someone make fun of Aussies by saying 'Let's put some more shrimp on the Barbie? | Let's have a barbie this afternoon. |
| Bogan | A word commonly used in Australia that describes someone who is known as a 'redneck.' Friends also use it amongst themselves when one of them is acting weird | That man over there is a significant bogan mate. |
| Gnarly | A word that can be heard on the beaches of Australia; it means fantastic, brilliant, or excellent | That wave was super gnarly mate. |
| Billabong | This word describes a pond in a dry riverbed, an oxbow lake. It’s most likely derived from the Wiradjuri language which “describes a pond or a pool of water that is left behind when a river alters its course”. | I’m so excited to finish the hike. At the end, we can chill and bathe in the billabong. |
Odd Phrases
The following few phrases are strange and practically unrecognisable for native speakers who live outside Australia:
😖 Having a whinge: say what? Used to complain about something; Australians usually enjoy 'having a whinge' about the weather or their boss.
Ex: What are you having a whinge about mate?
😃 You little ripper: a lovely expression that is uttered by Aussies in pure joy when something significant happens. What situations call for saying this phrase?
Your horse just won the race, your last class at university was cancelled, or you find our great news.
Ex: Good job you little ripper.
Find out more about English abbreviations.
Unusual Words in English Used in Asia
Asia is home to numerous English-speaking countries that adopt the use of standard English words, but also add some local flavours to the language.
From Singapore to India here are some unusual English words used in Asia.
Timepass
Used mainly in Indian English, it means to kill time, mostly in an aimless and unproductive way, an activity to pass time.
Ex: You might want to reconsider dating him. He’s just looking for a timepass, not a serious relationship.
Airdash
This means to go somewhere quickly or transport someone immediately by plane in Indian English.
Ex: The patient had to airdash urgently to another hospital, otherwise he would have lost the transplant.
Prepone
Does it ring a bell? If you think about it, it looks similar to “postpone”. However, if you “prepone” in Indian English, you reschedule something to an earlier date, quite the contrary of postpone.
Ex: Can we prepone the appointment to 5 PM instead of 7 PM?
Lepak
Encountered mostly in Singaporean English, the word describes someone who hangs around without being productive, who loiters.
Ex. Let’s have dinner, then we can lepak at the mall.
Shiok
This funny-looking word is used in Singaporean English to express that something is great, delicious, or satisfying.
Ex: This cold shower is shiok, especially after the heat endured midday.
Botak
The word describes someone bald or a balding person.
Ex: It’s been so long since I’ve seen him, I almost didn’t recognize him with his botak head.
In conclusion, learning more about weird English words and funny expressions can be an excellent way to study when you feel you need a break from your traditional grammatical English language development.
Most of these expressions and words mentioned in today's article are surprisingly uttered by native English speakers around the world.
I hope this article has been instructional for students who are non native and want to achieve English proficiency.
Language learning can be a thrilling and sometimes bizarre experience for multicultural ESL students when eccentricities about the language are exploited; who knew second language acquisition could be so entertaining?
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