The English language is diverse, stunning, and generally complicated with its inclusion of non-phonetically spelled phrases and complicated grammatical guidelines. Nevertheless, it additionally has many uncommon and funky phrases with cool meanings to find.
Right here, we dive into a few of our favourite phrases, with definitions and examples.
What’s a cool phrase?
What makes a phrase cool is subjective, however they’re typically synonymous with attention-grabbing or distinctive phrases. Cool phrases within the English language will be phonetically intriguing, have an uncommon that means, or be spelled in a stunning method.
25 cool phrases to know in English
Whether or not you wish to add uncommon phrases to your lexicon or are writing your debut novel, right here’s a listing of 25 distinctive and exquisite phrases.
1
Abracadabra
Pronounced: a-bruh-kuh-DA-bruh
A part of speech: noun
Which means: A command or incantation that’s spoken by magicians to enact a magic trick
He stated, “Abracadabra” and doves flew out of his high hat!
2
Amok
Pronounced: uh-MUHK
A part of speech: adverb
Which means: A violent and uncontrolled frenzy
The canines ran amok everywhere in the home, splattering the carpet and couch with mud.
Amok could be a tough phrase to spell and has one other model, amuck, which isn’t used as generally.
3
Anemone
Pronounced: uh-NEH-muh-nee
A part of speech: noun
Which means: A genus of perennials with enticing flowers within the buttercup household of vegetation
Within the backyard mattress alongside the entrance yard, I believe Japanese anemones would complement the colour of the home.
4
Brouhaha
Pronounced: BROO-haa-haa
A part of speech: noun
Which means: A commotion or uproar
The newest firm announcement stirred a brouhaha amongst members of the group.
5
Calliope
Pronounced: kuh-LIE-uh-pee
A part of speech: noun
Which means: The Greek muse of epic poetry. It will possibly additionally describe an organ-like musical instrument.
It’s as if Calliope herself guided my hand as I wrote.
6
Clandestine
Pronounced: klan-DEH-stin
A part of speech: adjective
Which means: One thing performed in secret
The traditional books revealed the existence of a clandestine society with mystical powers.
7
Doppelgänger
Pronounced: DAH-pul-gang-er
A part of speech: noun
Which means: A double of an individual; having a eager resemblance between two in any other case unrelated individuals.
I noticed Eloise’s doppelgänger on the grocery retailer yesterday.
8
Earwig
Pronounced: EER-wig
A part of speech: verb
Which means: To whisper in somebody’s ear as a method to influence or irritate them
Her daughter adopted her round the home, repeating the earwig: “We must always undertake the cat.”
9
Euphoria
Pronounced: yoo-FORE-ee-uh
A part of speech: noun
Which means: An intense feeling of elation, pleasure, or pleasure
Her euphoria after being accepted into medical faculty was so nice that she couldn’t sit nonetheless.
10
Fisticuffs
Pronounced: FI-sti-kuhfs
A part of speech: plural noun
Which means: A bodily struggle or altercation utilizing fists
The verbal argument escalated to fisticuffs as passersby recorded the confrontation.
11
Gizmo
Pronounced: GIZ-moe
A part of speech: noun
Which means: A phrase to explain a small machine or gadget whose title is unknown
The inventor confirmed off his newest gizmo, a pocket-sized contraption that interprets canine vocalizations into human language.
12
Gossamer
Pronounced: GAH-suh-mr
A part of speech: noun
Which means: One thing delicate or insubstantial
The gossamer spiderweb was stretched between three branches.
13
Hodgepodge
Pronounced: HAAJ-paaj
A part of speech: noun
Which means: A mixture or jumble of varied objects
The potluck was a hodgepodge of flavors, from spaghetti to pan-fried pork dumplings.
14
Kismet
Pronounced: KIZ-met
A part of speech: noun
Which means: Preordained by a drive of destiny or future
Encountering them felt like kismet—had I not gotten out of sophistication early, I by no means would have wandered into that bookstore, bumping into them.
Some who describes love at first sight may additionally contemplate it a matter of kismet.
15
Malarkey
Pronounced: muh-LAR-kee
A part of speech: noun
Which means: Talking foolishness, nonsense, or insincerely
He dismissed the gross sales affiliate’s claims as malarkey, doubting their truthfulness.
16
Oomph
Pronounced: oomf
A part of speech: noun
Which means: A colloquial phrase to explain vitality or influence
The singer’s efficiency lacked oomph, leaving a lull within the viewers’s vitality.
17
Portmanteau
Pronounced: port-MAN-toe
A part of speech: noun
Which means: A mix of two or extra phrases or phrase components
Enjoyable truth: Brunch isn’t solely one of the best mealtime of the week, it’s additionally a portmanteau of “breakfast” and “lunch.”
18
Jabberwocky
Pronounced: JA-bur-waa-kee
A part of speech: noun
Which means: Meaningless or nonsensical made-up language or phrases.
The toddler entertained everybody with jabberwocky that solely she may perceive.
19
Macabre
Pronounced: muh-KAAB
A part of speech: adjective
Which means: One thing grotesque, unsettling or disturbing, usually involving demise
The deserted home had a macabre ambiance, with damaged home windows and deteriorating roof.
Most likely originating from the Previous French phrase macabé, it’s on our high record of spookiest phrases.
20
Nomenclature
Pronounced: NOE-muhn-klay-chr
A part of speech: noun
Which means: The method of naming; a system or set of phrases and symbols in a sure area of research.
Dr. Owens meticulously studied the nomenclature of chook species, so each is precisely categorized and named based on the brand new requirements.
21
Peewee
Pronounced: PEE-wee
A part of speech: noun
Which means: Small in measurement, significantly a small youngster
Jeanie loves her peewee soccer group and appears ahead to follow daily.
22
Quibble
Pronounced: KWI-bl
A part of speech: verb
Which means: To complain or fixate on a trivial or small element to keep away from the principle level of an argument
As a substitute of addressing our deeper communication points, he quibbled over the marinara sauce.
23
Quintessential
Pronounced:
kwin-tuh-SEN-chl
A part of speech: adjective
Which means: A exact and typical illustration of one thing or somebody
He was the epitome of a quintessential New Yorker—openly weaving by means of oncoming visitors.
24
Umbra
Pronounced:
UHM-bruh
A part of speech: noun
Which means: A cone-shaped shadow brought on by an opaque object blocking the sunshine from a single supply
When the photo voltaic eclipse started, these of us within the umbra truly felt the air get cooler.
25
Wunderkind
Pronounced:
VUN-der-kint
A part of speech: noun
Which means: Sometimes, an adolescent or youngster with distinctive expertise or talent in a specific area
The younger level guard was thought of a wunderkind, impressing faculty basketball recruiters with their sharp ball-handling.
Incorporating cool phrases into your writing
Broaden your phrase financial institution by weaving these uncommon phrases into your subsequent writing challenge or by utilizing them in on a regular basis dialog. In the event you come throughout a phrase that sounds stunning, has an sudden that means, or is spelled in a stunning method, add it to your personal private record of cool phrases to attract from whereas writing.