Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay Watching the ongoing Olympic games is great for learning some new words. And suddenly I realize that there are so many sports related words--actually every sports have its own pile of terms that people not interested in it would not understand. Since I am really bad with sports, I can … Continue reading New Word #45: The Olympic Games
Category: vocabulary
New Word #44 : Rice Dishes
Image by Andrey Muzychuk from Pixaba This is only a list of rice dishes I've encountered in New Jersey so far. I feel rather embarrassed when I can't pronounce a dish's name when ordering it. Living in a multicultural environment but not being able to at least learn an entree's name that I want to … Continue reading New Word #44 : Rice Dishes
New Word #43: Cooking Methods
Image by congerdesign from Pixabay grill vs barbecue I never know what's the difference between grill and barbecue. Some people told me barbecue is the sauce while grill is the method; some say grilled meat has less fat than barbecued meat. Still I don't know the difference. Or probably they are the same. grill: cook … Continue reading New Word #43: Cooking Methods
New Word #46: Recently Learned
Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay firenado: a rapidly rotating column of flames above an intense fire, caused when air, dust, etc. is drawn into the fire from the surroundings and rises, creating a vortex. This word is obviously obtained from the word "tornado", which is referring to air vortex rather than fire vortex. I … Continue reading New Word #46: Recently Learned
New Word #45: The Fascinating “K” And “KY”
I've always been fascinated with words ending with "k" and "ky". There are a lot of them and each is sonorous, spontaneous, slang like, and vivid in the description of what it is supposed to describe. And it is no surprise that I can remember each one of them after just one encounter and never … Continue reading New Word #45: The Fascinating “K” And “KY”
New Word #44: Recently Learned
Image by Kristine Lejniece from Pixabay bubba: used as an affectionate form of address to a brother. (North America)From annzimmerman's post here.This is the first time I encounter this word--it is so endearing. cassowary: a very large flightless bird related to the emuFrom Iseult Murphy's post here. Love large flightless bird. They look so eccentric … Continue reading New Word #44: Recently Learned
New Word #43: Peripatetic
Image by Chingiz Khalafov from Pixabay A Temporary Stay I learned the word peripatetic from mjcd2017 here. peripatetic: traveling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods. This word has a temporary feel to it. sojourn: a temporary stay. tarry: to remain or stay, as in a … Continue reading New Word #43: Peripatetic
New Word #42: The Revolutionary War
Image by John Hain from Pixabay I learned many new words through the American Revolutionary War. One of the most interesting words is "dragoons"--they dismount their horses first before fighting on foot, unlike the cavalry who will fight while mounted. I just wonder where they would keep their horses while fighting? I mean on a … Continue reading New Word #42: The Revolutionary War
New Word #41: Recently Learned
Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay cabaret: entertainment held in a nightclub or restaurant while the audience eats or drinks at tables.From mjcd2017 here about the happy moments of life. ruddy: (of a person's face) having a healthy red color.From Shammi here with a story of a sage. ableist: discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.From … Continue reading New Word #41: Recently Learned
Instant Response
Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay Yesterday, I went to get my second shot of Moderna vaccine at the local Walmart. The pharmacist is very young, probably just out of the pharmacy school. He is very cute and also an immigrant, probably from Middle East somewhere. He explained to me that after getting the shot … Continue reading Instant Response
New Word #40: Bluster, Blaster, Or Blister
There are a score of words that start with "b" and end in "st" or "ster", which are very confusing. I hope listing them out here will reduce the confusion, but I know I am probably hoping too much. Still we try, despite knowing the futility of it. Image by Momentmal from Pixabay blust: This … Continue reading New Word #40: Bluster, Blaster, Or Blister
The Italian Name (Flash Fiction #38)
Image by Pexels from Pixabay "Can I also have a can of orange soda?" Armei says to the kid behind the counter, who looks like he's hardly out of high school. Armei can't even remember the days when she's out of high school. That's so long ago and she's growing old. "You mean the 'San … Continue reading The Italian Name (Flash Fiction #38)
New Word #39: Eat And Drink
Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash Most of these words for eating and drinking are often used. I've never seen "manducate" being used, but for the rest, they are all quite common. Sometimes I can encounter several just in one scene about a dinner or a party. There must be more words about eating and … Continue reading New Word #39: Eat And Drink
New Word #38: Recently Learned
shiv: a knife or razor used as a weapon.kryptonite: an alien mineral that has the property of depriving Superman of his powers. (It's only used in fantasy novels or movies.)These are from Princess & Pages' posts here and here zany: amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic.harping: talk or write persistently and tediously on (a particular topic).quibble: a … Continue reading New Word #38: Recently Learned
New Word #37: Walk
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels There are so many words for different kinds of walk or the same kind of walk that at certain point, I thought the list would never end. And I know there are more walks out there beyond this list. I wonder if the English speakers of the ancient times … Continue reading New Word #37: Walk
New Word #36: Related With Senses
Photo by rikka ameboshi from Pexels tangible: perceptible by touch. intangible: unable to be touched or grasped; not having physical presence. palpable: (of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible. impalpable: unable to be felt by touch. perceptible: (especially of a slight movement or change of state) able to be seen … Continue reading New Word #36: Related With Senses
New Word #34: Recently Learned
Image by Iván Tamás from Pixabay rambler: A person who walks for pleasure, especially in the countryside. I wonder if it may also means a person who talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way.This is from colinmcqueen here. squish: make a soft squelching sound when walked on or in. This is … Continue reading New Word #34: Recently Learned
New Word #33: Different Kinds Of Villains
Photo by Taryn Elliott from Pexels desperado: a desperate or reckless person, especially a criminal. degenerate: an immoral or corrupt person. rogue: a dishonest or unprincipled man. scoundrel: a dishonest or unscrupulous person; a rogue. fugitive: a person who has escaped from a place or is in hiding, especially to avoid arrest or persecution. Actually … Continue reading New Word #33: Different Kinds Of Villains
New Word #32: Humor
I've been complained about the sheer number of English words for a long time, especially when a lot of words can be used to describe one thing, each representing a slightly different shade of it, the subtlety of which can be easily detectable by native speakers but often escape notice from everybody else. However when … Continue reading New Word #32: Humor
New Word #31: Different Collections
Image by FelixMittermeier from Pixabay A List Or A Collection anthology: a published collection of poems or other pieces of writing. repertoire: a stock of plays, dances, or pieces that a company or a performer knows or is prepared to perform. portfolio: a collection of financial investments; a collection of drawings or maps. programme: booklet … Continue reading New Word #31: Different Collections
New Word #30: Varying Degrees Of Disagreement
Image by My Luu from Pixabay Have some doubts misgiving: a feeling of doubt or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something. qualm: an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one's own conduct; a misgiving. Disagree silently acquiesce: accept something reluctantly but without protest. Disagree mildly demur: raise doubts or objections … Continue reading New Word #30: Varying Degrees Of Disagreement
New Word #29: Recently Learned
Image by Comfreak from Pixabay chortle: laugh in a breathy, gleeful way; chuckle.The word is from Clayjonz's post here. gyration: a rapid movement in a circle or spiral; a whirling motion.skanky: dirty and unpleasant.This is from Bonnywood's post here. bumptious: self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree.This is from Pooja's post here. typology: a classification … Continue reading New Word #29: Recently Learned
New Word #28: More Confusing Pairs
There are countless confusing pairs in English that it is very easy to mistake one for the other. Here I list a few that I encountered recently. wreck and wrack wreck: a vehicle or ship that has been destroyed or badly damaged wrack: 1 : ruin, destruction. 2 : a remnant of something destroyed. These … Continue reading New Word #28: More Confusing Pairs
New Word #27 Recently Learned
Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay angst: a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general.from Bonnywood's post here rogue: This word is most often used in "to be a rogue" or "to go rogue", which means to be a mischievous … Continue reading New Word #27 Recently Learned
New Word #26: Singular Or Plural
Photo by Lucrezia Carnelos on Unsplash I have never been very comfortable with this issue since there are so many exceptions to the rule that I often wonder if I would be making a mistake if I follow the rule--as a non-native speaker, this is nothing new to me. At first I was quite frustrated … Continue reading New Word #26: Singular Or Plural
New Word #25: Used And Confused
Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels The following are two groups of words that are not infrequently used, one starting with t and the other starting with f or fl. I constantly get confused between tout and taunt, flaunt and flout, flounder and founder and flounce. The most surprising of all is founder which is … Continue reading New Word #25: Used And Confused
New Word #24: The Three Letter F Words
Photo by Julien Riedel on Unsplash Fig, fun, fog are commonly known, but there are many interesting three letter words that are not often used, like fib, fob, fub, fab, fad, fop, fab: fabulous; wonderful. fad: an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something fid: a square wooden or iron bar fib: a lie, typically … Continue reading New Word #24: The Three Letter F Words
New Word #23: Being Indirect
Image by hudsoncrafted from Pixabay Being Indirect prevaricate: speak or act in an evasive way. equivocate: use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself. circumlocution: the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive. implicit: implied though not plainly expressed. … Continue reading New Word #23: Being Indirect
New Word #22: A Period Of Time
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash I've always thought there are a lot of words to signify a period of time, but when I listed them out, there were not as many as I thought. I must have missed some. Please let me know if you have used or encountered such a word before. I've … Continue reading New Word #22: A Period Of Time
New Word #21: Learned Recently
Photo by Diane Helentjaris on Unsplash veracity: conformity to facts; accuracy.This is from Pooja here. detente: the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries.This is from Mitchteemley here. sally: a sudden charge out of a besieged place against the enemy; a sortie. (noun or verb)"O, that this too too sallied flesh would meltThaw … Continue reading New Word #21: Learned Recently
New Word #20: “Itch” And “Inch”
I've always liked words which end in "itch" or "inch" even though sometimes I can confuse one with another due to spelling similarities. Each of these words comes with an attached sound. For example, the word "glitch"--one can almost hear the sound of a "click" when a malfunction happens. The word "twitch" too--one can almost … Continue reading New Word #20: “Itch” And “Inch”
New Word #19: “COV” Related
I hope words starting with "cov" are not unfairly vilified due to the pandemic. I won't include cover and coverage here since these two words are too commonly used. My favorite "cov" word is covet. For a long time, I didn't know the difference between desire and covet despite all the explanations I reviewed. Then … Continue reading New Word #19: “COV” Related
The New Teacher (Flash Fiction #21)
Tom Tsai, the owner of the Ivy Training Center, has just hired Cindy Wong, a high school senior, as a part time teacher for one of the weekend ESL classes in Edison, New Jersey. ESL stands for English As Second Language, and ESL students are children who can't catch up with the regular classes at … Continue reading The New Teacher (Flash Fiction #21)
New Word #18: The Wonderful “ZZ”
Whenever I see a word with "zz", I start to imagine the sizzling sound of barbecuing, the fizzing sound of a bubbling beer, and the buzzing sound of an insect. The word comes with its own sound effect, which makes it easy to remember and interesting to reflect upon, although I have to say I … Continue reading New Word #18: The Wonderful “ZZ”
New Word #17 : In A Group
Many years ago, when I first encountered different names for different groups in English, I was really shocked. I had never imagined a "group" of birds is any different from a "group" of wild dogs before, and it took me a while to adapt. Here I use quotes on "group" because they are not supposed … Continue reading New Word #17 : In A Group
New Word #16: Words Recently Learned
New Word #15: Raconteur
Racounteur means a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way. It's said it has a French origin and it comes from the French word "raconter", which means 'relate, recount'. My question is if it comes from "raconter", who takes the trouble to change the tail to "teur"? I can just imagine this … Continue reading New Word #15: Raconteur
New Word #14: Is There A Word For This?
I encountered the word “Tsundoku” in heterodoxbuddhism’s post here. Tsundoku is a Japanese term that means one who buys books but don’t read them. And this inspires me to think of other words that should have existed but for one reason or another don’t exist in English. Conversationer. This is not a word, but I … Continue reading New Word #14: Is There A Word For This?
New Word #13: Learned Amid Pandemic
oximeter: an instrument for measuring the proportion of oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood. zoonotic: pertaining to a zoonosis, which means a disease that can be transmitted from animals to people or, more specifically, a disease that normally exists in animals but that can infect humans. endemic and epidemic and pandemic: Endemic means the baseline, or expected, … Continue reading New Word #13: Learned Amid Pandemic
New Word #12 Describe A Person
To describe people is one of the best ways to learn new words. This person can be somebody around you or a movie or TV character that you are familiar with. And you can do it with your friends together to pile some words on a person you all know. It will be a great … Continue reading New Word #12 Describe A Person
New Word #11: My Methods
I've always tried to find painless learning methods, especially when vocabulary is concerned. Learning From Others Reading other people's posts is a good way to learn new words. Here are several new words I learned recently. xaern: (v) to enjoy something so much you begin to hate how much you enjoy it. I learned this … Continue reading New Word #11: My Methods
New Word #10 : Malaprop
malaprop: the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect, as in, for example, “dance a flamingo ” (instead of flamenco). homophone: two or more words that sound alike, but have different meanings or spellings. I encountered this word in Luisa's post here. I've made mistakes like … Continue reading New Word #10 : Malaprop
New Word #9: Word Replacement
As a non-native speaker, I've always felt uncertain and insecure of my language. Just listening to my accent and looking at my Asian face, people may dismiss me or disqualify me right away, without giving me a chance to prove myself. I think a lot of people are like me, considering the number of non-native … Continue reading New Word #9: Word Replacement
New Word #8: To Praise Formally
There are many words for praise, but here I am talking about formal praises, often for ceremonial purposes, some in song and poem forms, and some concerning religious services or funeral arrangements. prothalamion: I learned this word from Pooja's post here. The word means "a song or poem celebrating an upcoming wedding."paean: a song of … Continue reading New Word #8: To Praise Formally
New Word #7: Can’t Describe It
Many of us grew up with simple native languages with about 3000 basic words --the rest is just a mixture and extension of these basic building blocks. We are in for a big shock when we realize that English has so many words. One concept can be described by ten to twenty different words, each … Continue reading New Word #7: Can’t Describe It
New Word #6: The Double “F” Words
I've always felt that "f" is unfairly vilified. It takes on the thankless task of starting words like "fail", "frail", "flail", "fray", "fake", "fall". Even the seemingly harmless word like "frame" is burdened with additional meaning of "producing false evidence against". Hasn't "f" suffered enough? It is a hardworking alphabet and please give him a … Continue reading New Word #6: The Double “F” Words
New Word #5: Timeline Of A Day
Diurnal: of or during the day. Nocturnal: done, occurring, or active at night. Matutinal: of or occurring in the morning. Vespertine: relating to, occurring, or active in the evening. Crepuscular: of, resembling, or relating to twilight. Out of the five words, I've only regularly seen nocturnal being used. However once I read crepuscular somewhere and … Continue reading New Word #5: Timeline Of A Day
New Word #4: The Three Vales
These three vales are: Valediction: the action of saying farewell.Valetudinarian: a person who is unduly anxious about their health.Valedictorian: a student, typically having the highest academic achievements of the class, who delivers the valedictory at a graduation ceremony. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between these three words, which look too much alike. Also one … Continue reading New Word #4: The Three Vales
New Word #3: Many Shades of Brown
It is said the Eskimos have fifty words for snow and certain people living in rain forests have fifty words for different shades of green. I had not noticed the big number of words for the brown color until I read "Heartburn", in which the main character's friend Arthur complains about colors--he doesn't know about … Continue reading New Word #3: Many Shades of Brown
New Word #2: Spiel
Spiel means "a long or fast speech or story, typically one intended as a means of persuasion or as an excuse but regarded with skepticism or contempt by those who hear it." It can also be used as a verb. I wonder if some of the lectures I attended during my school days can be … Continue reading New Word #2: Spiel
New Word #1: Cacoethes
I've always wanted to talk about vocabulary, if only to help others just like myself. Being a non-native speaker, English vocabulary has always been a challenge. There are so many of them and a lot don't even sound like English. Avoiding is not possible; facing it is frustrating. How to deal with the feeling of … Continue reading New Word #1: Cacoethes
The Unwilling Student
Lulu:"Aberration is not a difficult word to learn, Di. It's like the word abnormal, meaning something that is not normal. We just learned abnormal last week, didn't we?" Di:"So, why not just use the word abnormal?" Di is a 12-year-old boy, about to start middle school at Plainsboro, New Jersey. Lulu drives 25 miles once … Continue reading The Unwilling Student
