Comments on: A Mother for Your Mind

A Mother for Your Mind

nthdegx — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 05:30:27 -0800

The British Council polls non-English speakers for the seventy most beautiful English words. Mother comes out on top (as ever), with lullaby, oi (my favourite), and — bizarrely — hen night also appearing. I much prefer the examples of Wilfred Funk (and others): dawn, chalice and gossamer, for instance [source origin]. Beautiful words can be combined to form beautiful phrases and sometimes more. German words are also beautiful; habseligkeiten (meaning property), and such. Words can also be curious, people have observed; but also be truly awful, as a quick search of the phrases "global experience" and "leading edge" will attest.

By: benzo8

benzo8 — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 05:37:25 -0800

I suppose Cellar Door is a phrase really...

By: moonbird

moonbird — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 05:38:26 -0800

this is good

By: sour cream

sour cream — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 05:43:52 -0800

From the text on the most beautiful German word: They wanted to show that the German language could be every bit as romantic and glamorous as Italian or French. So they want to show that the German language can be as romantic and glamorous as Italian or French and they choose a word meaning "property" of all things? What about Zeitgeist and Weltschmerz? But I do agree that rhabarbermarmelade sounds pretty cool.

By: Chunky

Chunky — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 05:46:26 -0800

Do people use the word Mother? Don't they prefer to use Mum, Ma, Mama Mam etc I wonder where 'Stepmother' finished in the Poll?

By: thatwhichfalls

thatwhichfalls — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 05:50:14 -0800

Francois Truffaut once wrote (in the diary he kept while filming Fahrenheit 451 I think) that the most beautiful word in the English language is "idyll" . (I can't find a citation for this on google and my copy of that diary is in England - sorry)

By: Meatbomb

Meatbomb — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 06:07:12 -0800

I saw once, long ago, on a similar list, someone pointed out the beauty of the words "syphilis" and "gonorreah", and what a shame it was that such nice sounds were attached to such icky things...

By: sour cream

sour cream — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 06:08:08 -0800

BTW, the German runner up "geborgenheit" means "security": "Steppen Sie nicht in mine Habseligkeiten oder ich callen den Geborgenheit welcher smeeren in ihren nasen den rhabarbermarmelade."

By: Simon!

Simon! — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 06:17:05 -0800

I'd be more interested in finding out which words sounded the prettiest to people who had absolutely no idea what they meant. As the list stands, its just the seventy words that give people the most warm fuzzies. Also, Hen Night.

By: JohnR

JohnR — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 06:22:06 -0800

Zephyr ?!?

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 06:23:39 -0800

Syzygy?

By: thatwhichfalls

thatwhichfalls — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 06:29:26 -0800

Simon! First sentence of the FPP: "The British Council polls non-English speakers"

By: Tommy Gnosis

Tommy Gnosis — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 06:35:17 -0800

As far as German words go, my favorite is Strassenreinigungswagenherstellungsfabrik. Meaning? A factory that produces street cleaning trucks. As far as this list goes, I can't believe that brobdingnagian didn't make the cut. But 'oi'? Oi? As in "Oi! Sod off you wankers!" Personally, I prefer it to the American "hey", but I am curious as to why they thought it beautiful sounding enough to place in the list. Meatbomb: chlamydia belongs in that list, too. Much more melliflous than non gonococcal urethritis, I think.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 06:36:57 -0800

Ah, thatwhichfalls -- that was my understanding from a summary I'd read elsewhere, but the Guardian article does suggest English *learners* -- although it does hint that non-English speakers might have contributed too. I can't help but think that many of the words in the list were chosen primarily for their sound, as I don't see them coming up in basic English vocab classes...

By: the quidnunc kid

the quidnunc kid — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 06:50:25 -0800

I note the first two words are mother passion. hee hee hee. mother passion.

By: thatwhichfalls

thatwhichfalls — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 06:59:29 -0800

nthdegx - on reading the article more carefully I see you are right, which as Simon! pointed out makes the exercise less interesting. I wonder how they did it though - a printed list of words in standard English spelling? A list of words phonetically transcribed into the first language of the test subjects? Recordings of native English speakers? If the last one, was there any allowance made for accents? The word "alright" sounds much more attractive to me when said by an Australian than by someone with a BBC accent. Simon! many apologies for jumping to conclusions - you read the article closer than I did.

By: thinkpiece

thinkpiece — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 07:06:04 -0800

What, no 'summer'? The sibilant beckoning, that languid hum in the center, the exhale on the r leaving lips slightly apart, with the feeling that it could go on forever ...

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 07:13:13 -0800

Don't sleep on the collection of word oddities link, though. Better than the Guardian article, in my opinion.

By: davehat

davehat — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 07:20:17 -0800

Well, my favourite word is Banjo. I have no idea why. It's also one of my favourite names. I've met someone with Banjo as a first name as well as a few who have it as a surname. My partner put her foot down when it came to naming our son. I can't think why. She wasn't too keen on Magma either....

By: ltl

ltl — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 07:35:25 -0800

Some details on the German word 'Habseligkeiten': It doesn't just mean 'property', it's more 'stuff that is not necessarily viewed as precious by most people, but nonetheless held dear by the owner', like things a child collects in its pockets, the belongings one rescued when the house was destroyed, etc. The jury liked that it is a combination of 'Hab(e)' = 'belongings' and of 'Seligkeit' = 'blessedness', which is a nice contrast. Obviously, some didn't like the choice from a PR angle...

By: ashbury

ashbury — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 07:40:56 -0800

I recently rediscovered one of my favorite words: shmegma. milk, spelled backwards, is klim, and that just sounds gross. That is all.

By: penguin pie

penguin pie — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 07:52:08 -0800

Estonian is full of beautiful, if strange words. In my first ever lesson, we were taught lasteajakasvataja - nursery nurse, or more literally, "grower in the garden of children" (laste=children, aja=garden, kasvataja-one who grows things). Always thought that was cool.

By: Eekacat

Eekacat — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 08:00:26 -0800

Phi Shmegma Caligula is a fraternity even I might join.

By: NinjaPirate

NinjaPirate — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 08:00:26 -0800

(prolly smegma, ashbury) "looking up rude words in a dictionary" should have a wonderfully technical name all of it's own so that parents can accuse wee teenagers of it in comfortable pomposity. Finding out later that someone else knows what you did and you can't do anything about it has always been a terrible punishment. (evidence) And woe is me! Did no one suggest diaphanous, peregrine or, indeed, head?

By: rushmc

rushmc — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 08:21:59 -0800

I would never have thought of "oi" as an English word... I nominate "maniacal."

By: ashbury

ashbury — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 08:23:51 -0800

I stand corrected, ninjapirate.

By: Secret Life of Gravy

Secret Life of Gravy — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 08:32:53 -0800

#43: if If? If?! In what way is this attractive? The sound is that of someone blowing a fly off his lip. I find it hard to believe these words were chosen by sound alone, because "mother" could hardly beat out words like gossamer, sultry, oblique, or tantamount. It must be a combination of meaning plus sound, and even then Mother fails to resonate in any way with me but then again it may be the way I feel about my mother.

By: .kobayashi.

.kobayashi. — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 09:14:08 -0800

no "bulbous bouffant" ?

By: phirleh

phirleh — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 09:48:36 -0800

macadamia!

By: painquale

painquale — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 09:54:37 -0800

James Joyce thought that 'cuspidor' was the most beautiful word in English. It's very appropriate. He was a master at making disgusting things sound heavenly. My favorite word is probably paralipsis. If not that, then boustrophedon.

By: Shane

Shane — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 10:10:35 -0800

Points for smithereens, flabbergasted, etc., but what--no arugula?! (A small observation: See what a nice, thoughtful crowd a thread like this draws? Not a troll to be heard, they're not the slightest bit interested, not even to growl "AHOO-GUH-LUH" from beneath a nearby bridge.)

By: SoftRain

SoftRain — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 11:19:53 -0800

German's such a cool language. I don't understand it at all, but I love listening to people speak in Fassbinder movies. I don't think I have a favourite word. I like "esoteric." I've always really like "cunnilingous" too. And "shadow." (The word, I mean.) Favourite Spanish words: "alma" (soul), "lejos" (far away), "tocar" (to touch, to play (as in an instrument)). Favourite French word? I don't know, I'm kind of rusty. "Pomme" is a fantastic word though.

By: .kobayashi.

.kobayashi. — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 11:35:09 -0800

If we're going in that direction, my favorite French word is also my favorite word ever: "pamplemousse." "Grapefruit," it's English translation isn't a bad word either, but "pamplemousse" is where it's at. Say it out loud if you don't believe me; you'll come around once you do.

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 11:52:23 -0800

Hungarian writer Dezso Kosztolanyi made a pastime out of this: make a list of the ten most beautiful words. His own list: láng, gyöngy, anya, osz, szuz, kard, csók, vér, szív, and sír (if you're curious, that's flame, peral, mother, autumn, maiden, sword, kiss, blood, heart, and grave). Paul Valery's French ten: pure, jour, or, lac, pic, seul, onde, feuille, mouille, and flute. Taken from here, where you can find other Hungarian lists if you're so inclined.

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 12:12:12 -0800

Heroine. Azalea. Thalidomide (just try saying it and pretending it's the name of a flower of something). Lunar. In The Singing Detective, Dennis Potter nominated elbow and primrose. (The very fine UK band Elbow took their name from this, btw.)

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 12:14:12 -0800

A couple more: Pearl. Sublime. Liminal. And of course, the phrase Woody Allen nominated for the most beautiful in the English language: "It's benign."

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 12:42:23 -0800

Usage is everything. George Bush has destroyed the words freedom, peace, and liberty. He and the terrorists have left their bloody fingerprints all over explosion, smithereens, and hodgepodge. Paradox and delicacy are likely too subtle and effete for him, but he'd better not start messing with banana and pumpkin. Number 62 is a typo—oi is supposed to be oil, I guess ;^) What's hen night doing there? If you count two words, how about sweet dreams or fuzzy pickles? (All right is always two words, thatwhichfalls) Infinity should be on, but, like many brand names, it was better before the cars came along. There's no justice. I think wow deserves a spot. It can express so many emotions, depending on the tone of voice. Best whispered very slowly at something magical or beautiful. It's a palindrome even upside down and front to back (mirror image). I've always thought WOW would be a great name for a bistro. You'd be able to read it on both sides of the window, reflected off the cutlery & glassware, and taste it inside. It surely beats gum or cute. Was Britney Spears on council? IMO the best words of all, like the best artworks, come from children. They have incredible originality and a fragile Zen quality, like something small, ephemeral, and beautiful you've seen in nature. Hostible, resanot, breadeye, bushmust, clook. Kids also have a great take on standard words: "Dirt is like brunch, but between dinner and dessert." "When you say moths, you bite your tongue—but just a little bit."

By: abcde

abcde — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 13:39:40 -0800

It's disappointing when some words are pretty but ruined by their meanings (the extreme case being "diarrhea")

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 14:03:49 -0800

Um, abcde: Gonorrhea has been praised for the way it runs off your tongue

By: exlotuseater

exlotuseater — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 14:07:53 -0800

Consanguinous. Aether. Grandiloquent. Lexiphanicism.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 14:15:39 -0800

I'll see you, and raise you a nubile sphygmomanometer.

By: exlotuseater

exlotuseater — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 15:00:20 -0800

*throws "supererogatorily numinous" into pot*

By: leotrotsky

leotrotsky — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 15:15:40 -0800

Tungsten

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 15:30:32 -0800

Cabbaged and fabaceae, each eight letters long, are the longest words that can be played on a musical instrument.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 15:43:36 -0800

I see your nubile sphygmomanometer, and raise you a susurration.

By: exlotuseater

exlotuseater — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 15:54:16 -0800

I love that page. this link and this one are good too. (both previously posted on MeFi, I think.)

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 16:39:16 -0800

"Sorry for shouting; it cut and pasted that way," he said justificatively. "I think I might need my sphygmomanometer back" he said purposefully, his face fuchsia, his philtrum fasciculating.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 17:04:32 -0800

.kobayashi. Isn't the English word for pamplemousse gralefrit?

By: amberglow

amberglow — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 17:35:58 -0800

tumescent episcopalian cornucopia

By: randomstriker

randomstriker — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 17:45:00 -0800

milk, spelled backwards, is klim, and that just sounds gross. Ashbury, are you aware that Klim is a popular powdered milk product sold in the UK? Bears some faint resemblance to Horlicks, though that would be a real insult to Horlicks.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 18:11:57 -0800

Isn't the English word for pamplemousse gralefrit? grapefruit and gralefrit are both equally cromulent.

By: sour cream

sour cream — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 18:22:17 -0800

ltl: Some details on the German word 'Habseligkeiten': It doesn't just mean 'property', it's more 'stuff that is not necessarily viewed as precious by most people, but nonetheless held dear by the owner', like things a child collects in its pockets, the belongings one rescued when the house was destroyed, etc. Ah, those Germans have a word for everything, don't they?

By: trappedinabay

trappedinabay — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 19:05:07 -0800

I take exception to the "as vivid as spectres" phrase under the beautiful phrases link.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 19:30:29 -0800

trappedinabay: I take exception to the "as vivid as spectres" phrase under the beautiful phrases link. yes...the list is also missing "fountain of blood", no?

By: blahblahblah

blahblahblah — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 21:54:51 -0800

The beautiful poems list was saddly lacking - for just plain sounding beautiful, meaning be damned, how can you not include Pied Beauty? Glory be to God for dappled things— For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow; For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim; Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings; Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough; And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim. All things counter, original, spare, strange; Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?) With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim; He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: Praise him. (Also, kumquat as one of the ugliest words? I object!)

By: kindall

kindall — Fri, 26 Nov 2004 01:51:29 -0800

As far as German words go, my favorite is ... punktmatrixdrucker. It means "dot matrix printer." I was so enamored of the word that I cut it out of a printer box and attached it to my car when I was a young nerd in the early '90s.

By: grapefruitmoon

grapefruitmoon — Fri, 26 Nov 2004 16:24:23 -0800

i once asked a german friend of mine what her favorite word in english was, i was a bit surprised that her response was "lobster." runner up : hippopotamus.

By: synaplex

synaplex — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 01:05:16 -0800

cuspidor

By: trappedinabay

trappedinabay — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 20:54:23 -0800

UbuRoivas: Yes, it is. What's with that? I mean, really.