The strangest words in the English language

northwest Career College ^ | Updated February 25, 2025 | Dr. Thomas Kenny

[kawhill]

The strangest words in the English language Cattywampus Originating in the Colonial United states and still used in the deep South, cattywampus means something that is in disarray, that is askew, or something that isn’t directly across from something.

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TOPICS: Education; History
KEYWORDS: cattywampus; collywobbles; gardyloo

[TheConservator]

Really?

How about yclept?

Or callipygian?

Or queueing?

Or borborygmus?

[Dr. Franklin]

Really?
How about yclept?
Or callipygian?
Or queueing?
Or borborygmus?

It's very strange that in Britain, people must queue to pee in public toilets.

[big truck]

Then there’s:

Balderdash
Persnickety
Discombobulate

[mass55th]

"It's very strange that in Britain, people must queue to pee in public toilets."

And the Brits get gobsmacked. When they find something exceptional, noteworthy, or outstanding, they say "It's a belter."

[jmacusa]

“Could’’, would’’, ‘’should’’.

Why are these words spelled with an ‘’l’’ in them but the ‘’l’’ is never pronounced?

[jmacusa]

In America we offer the skeptics challenge: “Yeah, right?’’

In the UK it’s: “Too right mate!’’

[mabarker1]

What the heck, I'll jump in on this, I must add that I had some assistance from other FReepers before deciding that it was complete.

demonratcommieblmantifaterrorscumfeminaziguanopathicpedophilegoatrapers

[mabarker1]

Toilet = Loo

[Liz]

A good one.

[Lockbox]

Shouldn’t there be a hyphen between Antifa-terror?

😂😂😂😂😂

[21twelve]

I think we said kitty wampus. Or perhaps I’m thinking of kitty corner. (Or was that catty corner??)

[Texas Eagle]

Gardyloo

Added to the English language by the Scottish people of Edinburgh, gardyloo is similar to the golf term ‘fore’, but much grosser. Invented at a time when chamber pots were common, the word is an amalgamation of ‘guard below’ and ‘loo’ a British term for the toilet.

Scottish people would shout gardyloo before emptying their chamber pots out of their bedroom windows, giving the people below a few seconds to get out of the way.

Say what? People threw their crap out onto the street???

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Gerrymandering

[Nateman]

...Say what? People threw their crap out onto the street

Apparently that is still the case in India.

[SMARTY]

We pronounce school as SKool. Brits pronounce school as SHool.

A British General asked Ike, "Where did you learn to pronounce 'school' like that?"

He said, "At SKool". 😁

I hope that came across properly

[Adder]

That’s why they say

Mind your pees in queues

[Celtic Conservative]

What about the word I made up about Obama?:

Stupifcallousfragilewristedmuslimhalitosis.

CC

[Celtic Conservative]

Oops typo;

Stupidcallousfragilewristedmuslimhalitosis.

CC

[Celtic Conservative]

The street and the sewer were one and the same.

CC