So tonight, Matt and I were having a conversation about "the most beautiful words in the English language". He told me that Tolkien once said that "cellar door" was the most beautiful phrase in the English language. If you want to know why, click here.
Now, I am not sure if I agree. But it probed a discussion of "favourite words". I found a site with some funny suggestions. I want to know what you guys think - favourite and least favourite words.**
Here are my cop-out answers, but I will think on it more:
Home
Grace
Sensual
From others (check out the links):
Acquiesce (Matt)
Foreboding (Matt)
Soprano saxophone
Nevermore
Sparkle
Mellifluous
And ones we hate:
Moist
Brainstorm
**It doesn't have to relate to the meaning at all. Tolkien just liked the sound, you can hate it because of the "noise" it makes or whatever. I know that mine are very meaning based. Sorry.
If you a keener and into this, check out these sites:
BBC's Top Ten Best Words
A Collection of Words and Oddities
Favourite words from authors -beautiful really
9 comments:
Some of my fav words: felicity, vivacious, poppycock, plethora.
I don't really like kumquat, it sounds dirty but its really only a fruit.
gossamer is nice though
but are we going strictly for sound? do these people really disassociate sound from meaning, Tolkein i can believe, but some of the others..
the whole evening i thought of this post.here i go.
words to love:
narcissism. satisfy. malaise. clavicle. metaphysical. rhythm. gradient. overwhelming. junction. gothic. commonplace. meditate.
words to hate:
hybrid. neighbour.
i recently decided the most beautiful sounding word in the english language was 'harrow'. and it's nicely composed.
The funny thing is I already have a running list of favorite words. Here are a few highlights:
quintessential
antithesis
quip
equanimity
olfactory
sojourn
whatnot
methinks
savvy
copse
I got sold on the word equanimity by my prof Dr. Anonby, who went on about what a great word it is one day in my Shakespeare class last year. Savvy is great because it has an excellent meaning, nice to say, and I have to say it's one of my favorite words to see written out. Love the double V. And copse. It's just a beautiful word to say. Anyway, I could go on and on about how great these words are but I think you get the idea. :)
Some of my favourite words:
preponderance, moreover, kiss.
ooo Sharelle - SENSUAL! Holla.
being the pessimist, i will share with you some words i find highly cacophonous: eructate, masticate and gesticulate. if kumquat sounds dirty, i don't even know what beastly label to place on these wretched excuses for english words.
new thoughts sharelle: english has some nice and some nasty words- but EVERYTHING sounds better in spanish.
Por ejemplo: "Flaaag" vs "Bandera!" (please flourish your castenets when you say that and roll your 'r')
I rest my case.
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