Funny words

@catalady (363)
August 15, 2010 6:05am CST
Do you use any words, either real or made up , that make other people laugh or comment on your using them for some reason ? I often use the word 'cross' and invariably a comment is made on me using this as it seems that no-one uses the word 'cross' anymore and it is deemed as 'old fashioned' - I love the word 'cross', I think it is really descriptive...it is a bit above irritated and not as bad as angry! I think I shall start a campaign to reintroduce obscure and rarely used words back into the English language...have I got any supporters?
4 people like this
19 responses
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
15 Aug 10
I'm with you on this one. Right off hand I can not think of any words I use that are not used anymore. I use to say I was cross and I don't really know when I stopped using that word. It does fit very well.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Aug 10
I guess I've not noticed that others don't use stupendous in a sentence. I do.
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@catalady (363)
15 Aug 10
I am now going to make an effort to use 'stuepndous' whenever I can ,lol.
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@catalady (363)
15 Aug 10
I love the word 'stupendous'....but no-one uses that word anyore do they? That's a really descriptive word too :o)
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@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
16 Aug 10
You absolutely do have a supporter in me! Sad to say so many people today don't know or understand their own languages. They can't read, write, or spell, never mind use the plethora of lovely words available to us. This has been reported to me by friends in other countries as well. Delicate, descriptive words have given way to "slang" or the language of the uneducated. I love the word cross; it's sweet and meaningful. There's nothing old- fashioned about using a variety of synonyms which have varying shades of meanings. I'm particularly fond of the word "swell". I think words like cross and swell connote something of innocence and softness rather than the kind of harsh words spoken today. Either way, you are a great wordsmith and should in no way be censured. I like to use the word supper re the evening meal. Many younger people take umbrage at that. I like words that are quaint and genteel; cross sure is one of them. Who says "new-fashioned" is better than old-fashioned anyway. Surely not I.
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@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
17 Aug 10
I think it is vital that we keep the precious words of our language alive. The gentleness has gone out of our lives; the lack of these more gentle words is surely evidence of that. When you speak of "human progression and evolvement", that speaks to me of the exact antithetical forces that have robbed us of the beauty and MEANING we so desperately need in our lives today. Progress and evolvement denote positiveness and growth; surely this is not what we have today re, not just our language, but throughout much of society, especially re relationship. The power of words is evidenced by the fact that our God SPOKE the universe into existence. That "blows my mind" or, more properly, is "beyond my ken". We must preserve the beauty and meaning of the words that we have been so blessed by and with. How could technospeak, aborted and misspelled words possibly be "evolved" in any sense of the word? They sound like an automaton is regurgitating something devoid of sentiment or meaning, much less beauty and lyricism. I've started to make a study of the spiritual root of words and it is most illuminating.
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@catalady (363)
17 Aug 10
Very eloquently put epicure...and I totally agree with you on every point there. It's as if our languages are becoming smaller and less meaningful nowadays, the amount of words we use are dwindling and are much less descriptive which is a real shame. Some words just sum a situation up perfectly...cross being one of them. You used the word 'genteel' - that's not a word we hear very often either but it is so descriptive and correct in it's meaning...even the word feels 'genteel' 'Plethora' is a grand word too...again so underused yet so descriptive...it even feels 'big', lol My nieces often laugh at some of the words I use, but I think that's basically because they have not heard the word before ...it's up to us 'oldies' to keep these words in circulation I think, but then is this just all part of human progression and evolvement...there are many words from centuries ago which have disappeared and become lost in the mists of time and maybe this is just how things go?
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@catalady (363)
17 Aug 10
That sounds interesting epicure, I know there was a tv series on British tv some time ago about the English Language and how it had evolved, where many words came from, how words have been misread and hence mispoken and used that way now and how many words we have actually lost over time. I quite agree with you that it does actually seem to be the most gentle words that are being lost from language now..so in turn does that mean that the gentleness is being lost out of lives altogether I wonder?
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
15 Aug 10
That's a good idea catalady..As a writer I am constantly going to the thesaurus to find new words to use. (New as in not used anymore so I do remember them lol)
• United States
15 Aug 10
I do, actually..Not that I'd use every new word I haven't heard before, but I at least read them and find some interesting enough to use..:)
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@catalady (363)
15 Aug 10
I think the trick is to be able to use them in the reight context, lol...and I am not sure I always do!
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@catalady (363)
15 Aug 10
Hehehehe...so there's another campaign ...'The learn a new word a day ' campaign :o)
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@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 10
Cornfused - I think my husband coined it. My daughter got people at her elementary school to use it, and the principal had to have a talk with my husband about it, because the other kids were starting to say it.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 10
Yes, they do. My husband had to stop saying "Jesus Christ" when he was upset. My daughter picked up on that one right away....
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@catalady (363)
17 Aug 10
uh oh...not a good one. Strange how they don't pick up the good words so easily isn't it, lol
@catalady (363)
16 Aug 10
LOL dawnald...that has reminded me about a word my brother used for, er...let's saying going to the toilet , with my niece...it was the name of an animal and she was convinced that was it's real meaning. Infact I took her to the zoo and showed her what this word really was..and she didn't believe me. Children do pick up adult words very easily don't they :o)
2 people like this
• United States
15 Aug 10
I do this all the time, I love using odd words or making up my own words, ppl really do look at you like, what the heck?? btu its awesome to be different!
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@catalady (363)
15 Aug 10
Oh ceekay, give us some examples of your own made up words and what they mean? Lol
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@catalady (363)
15 Aug 10
Wow Julsie...I have never heard any of those words at all, that's really interesting. I can see why you wouldn't understand people when you first moved there if they have there own words like that!
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@julsie (70)
15 Aug 10
the town where i live has its own language!! when i first moved here i had trouble understanding the locals, for example gadgie=man radgie=crazy lowie=money
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@MrDollars (454)
• Australia
18 Aug 10
haha I know! I use heaps of words that are not "nowadays" words but I do not care. So what? There are real words they just aren't used as often. Now as for made up words haha well yes. I can not think of any of the words I have made up right now but I usually just say something in the heat of the moment. $-MrDollars-$
@catalady (363)
18 Aug 10
Oh MrDollar , try and think of some of your made up words :o) I love to use unusual words and words that aren't used so often nowadays
1 person likes this
• Australia
18 Aug 10
haha Ok well I do remember one thing I said once but it was actually used in a movie way after I made it up. One day I was sitting in class at school and kept writing something wrong and I got angry and said something like, "OH! Mulucka". Now apparently that word was used in Madagascar or something. That children's movie. I still said it first though haha. $-MrDollars-$
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@catalady (363)
18 Aug 10
Oh yes..I like that one 'mulucka' sounds like a real curse, lol. I will try and rememeber that one and watch peoples faces when I say it! :o)
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• Philippines
15 Aug 10
More often, I got reactions for using old fashioned words. What can I say, lol. They still sell and even though I might deliver it in a corny way but still some would still laugh. Even to our language, Filipino, there was one time I used this very old word called "sadya" in Visayan. It means "happy" but hardly it's been used. I got a reaction from my aunt saying it was a "long time ago" word. But it got her attention. lol.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
Thanks for the friend request, catalady. :D
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@catalady (363)
15 Aug 10
I think it's nice to resurrect old words :o)
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@eileenleyva (27567)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
catalady, when do you use cross? Is it like the cute, nice, gross of the 70's, the incredible of the 80's, the amazing of the present time? I do agree with your that language must grow and become richer.
@catalady (363)
15 Aug 10
I say 'cross' when I am a little bit annoyed but not furious, lol. I am sure I will will think of other unusual words I use in time too :o)
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@catalady (363)
16 Aug 10
Yes Eileen, Miffed would be a little bit less than cross, lol :o)
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
15 Aug 10
Well, I am not an English native. I am really bothered when people ask: "Do you speak British English or American English?" I would quickly replied: "I speak Indonesian English." And it usually makes people laugh. It is the same when some native said: "Sorry, I don't know what you are talking about?" And I would say: "That is because I am speaking Indonesian English."
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@catalady (363)
16 Aug 10
Hehehehe....smart answer jenny :o)
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@mauie0918 (337)
• Philippines
18 Aug 10
I do! I use funny words and I revived some words I've heard in the movies or seen in the book. It just depend on how to use it so the people will not be irritated or get loss to my point of view.
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@catalady (363)
19 Aug 10
Yes mauie, sometimes if you use seldom used word other people haven't got a clue what you are talking about :o)
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@Debscrochet (1947)
• United States
15 Aug 10
We have a made up word since I was a kid for T.P. BUN-WA
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@catalady (363)
15 Aug 10
I am probably being very blonde here Debs....but what is T.P ?
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• Malaysia
16 Aug 10
I wonder what cross did to you. Perhaps when you hear "Crossed the crossing when cross being crossed" will have some impression from you. I hardly have a word that always I use and I don't know what word may sound funny to me. In my opinion, it's depends on each individuals to interpret the words that tickles their ribs.
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@catalady (363)
16 Aug 10
I have never heard that expression albert...I will try and remember that one - then I get to say the word 'cross' lots of times :o)
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@AutumnGold (1056)
16 Aug 10
Hello Cat. Cross is an excellent word, I haven't heard that word for a long time I can't think of any funny words that I use but you'd probably think some are funny because they're local slang words, if I think of any I'll get back to you Oh and yes, consider me a member of the Funny Word Appreciation Society
16 Aug 10
I was going to say Top Words and Terms but had to re think
@catalady (363)
17 Aug 10
Thank goodness you did NOT suggest that one Autumn...this is my campaign so we are NOT using that one :o)
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@catalady (363)
16 Aug 10
Excellent..so we now have an acronym for the group.....FWAS :o)
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• United States
16 Aug 10
I would support your funny/old fashioned come back campaigne! I love funny words even more so i love everything old fashioned! I think the world could use a little more of the easier/golden days! :)
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@catalady (363)
16 Aug 10
Oh yes dee....words just used to be more descriptive and expressive, we are so quick to abbreviate words nowadays and they seem to lose some of thier meaning and expressiveness when we do that I think.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Aug 10
"cross" is a perfect example of a word that is really describes the feeling you give as an example. Nowadays the English language is being bastardized with all this horrible text-speak being used in normal everyday written communication. IMO it makes people who use it at the wrong times seem completely illiterate.
@catalady (363)
17 Aug 10
Oh so true whiteheather..even the word 'bastardized' would not be understood by many of the younger generation now. My nieces often come out with 'OMG'..as in just saying the initials...maybe one day we will all speak using initials of words or use abbreviations rather than using the whole word?
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18 Aug 10
i do use some 'strange ' expressions. I must admit i do swear, but instead of saying a***hole, I used to say 'earhole', which evolved (??) into 'earywighole'! 'faceachefeatures' is another one,'bugalugs' and i am very fond of calling my husband 'porkypig chunks'. Strange but true... Cross is a good word and i also use it. so what if its classified as old fashioned, its a good word, short and to the point. twerp and nitwit are also good words and i also use those.
@catalady (363)
19 Aug 10
Heheheeh Margery, I have been known to twist swear words so that sound more acceptable , lol. I like 'earywighole'..that's a huge preogression from the original word you were saying :o) It's nice to invent your own words at times I think...just shame no-one else has a clue what you are talking about :o)
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Aug 10
I love funny words but i rarely used funny words in my daily life but oh my gush my husband really love to use funny words. everyday he use it when we talk and there is alwasy something new to expect my husband. He is such a smart person and happy man.
@catalady (363)
15 Aug 10
I love to use unusual and funny words..at one time I used to look in the dictionary every day to find a new word and make it my mission to try and use it in one conversation that day :o)
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• United States
16 Aug 10
i say smite alot when im joking around..like god will smite you. ive been told i use it alot more then a normal person should...allah will smite u(:
@catalady (363)
16 Aug 10
'smite'...now there's a really good old fashioned word...I don't think I have ever heard anybody use that word -ever :o)
1 person likes this
• Libya
16 Aug 10
i have one is like not a word but in the movie tropic thunder where jack black after the bull he want to wear his skin he said something funny but i can remember the word