The English language is varied, beautiful, and sometimes confusing with its inclusion of non-phonetically spelled words and complex grammatical rules. However, it also has many unusual and cool words with cool meanings to discover.
Here, we dive into some of our favorite words, with definitions and examples.
What is a cool word?
What makes a word cool is subjective, but they are often synonymous with interesting or unique words. Cool words in the English language can be phonetically intriguing, have an unusual meaning, or be spelled in a surprising way.
25 cool words to know in English
Whether you want to add unusual words to your lexicon or are writing your debut novel, here’s a list of 25 unique and beautiful words.
1
Abracadabra
Pronounced: a-bruh-kuh-DA-bruh
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A command or incantation that is spoken by magicians to enact a magic trick
He said, “Abracadabra” and doves flew out of his top hat!
2
Amok
Pronounced: uh-MUHK
Part of speech: adverb
Meaning: A violent and uncontrolled frenzy
The dogs ran amok all over the house, splattering the carpet and sofa with mud.
Amok can be a tricky word to spell and has another version, amuck, which isn’t used as commonly.
3
Anemone
Pronounced: uh-NEH-muh-nee
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A genus of perennials with attractive flowers in the buttercup family of plants
In the garden bed along the front yard, I think Japanese anemones would complement the color of the house.
4
Brouhaha
Pronounced: BROO-haa-haa
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A commotion or uproar
The latest company announcement stirred a brouhaha among members of the team.
5
Calliope
Pronounced: kuh-LIE-uh-pee
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: The Greek muse of epic poetry. It can also describe an organ-like musical instrument.
It’s as if Calliope herself guided my hand as I wrote.
6
Clandestine
Pronounced: klan-DEH-stin
Part of speech: adjective
Meaning: Something conducted in secret
The ancient books revealed the existence of a clandestine society with mystical powers.
7
Doppelgänger
Pronounced: DAH-pul-gang-er
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A double of a person; having a keen resemblance between two otherwise unrelated persons.
I saw Eloise’s doppelgänger at the grocery store yesterday.
8
Earwig
Pronounced: EER-wig
Part of speech: verb
Meaning: To whisper in someone’s ear as a means to persuade or irritate them
Her daughter followed her around the house, repeating the earwig: “We should adopt the cat.”
9
Euphoria
Pronounced: yoo-FORE-ee-uh
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: An intense feeling of elation, excitement, or pleasure
Her euphoria after being accepted into medical school was so great that she couldn’t sit still.
10
Fisticuffs
Pronounced: FI-sti-kuhfs
Part of speech: plural noun
Meaning: A physical fight or altercation using fists
The verbal argument escalated to fisticuffs as passersby recorded the confrontation.
11
Gizmo
Pronounced: GIZ-moe
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A word to describe a small device or gadget whose name is unknown
The inventor showed off his latest gizmo, a pocket-sized contraption that translates dog vocalizations into human language.
12
Gossamer
Pronounced: GAH-suh-mr
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: Something delicate or insubstantial
The gossamer spiderweb was stretched between three branches.
13
Hodgepodge
Pronounced: HAAJ-paaj
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A mix or jumble of various items
The potluck was a hodgepodge of flavors, from spaghetti to pan-fried pork dumplings.
14
Kismet
Pronounced: KIZ-met
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: Preordained by a force of fate or destiny
Encountering them felt like kismet—had I not gotten out of class early, I never would have wandered into that bookstore, bumping into them.
Some who describes love at first sight might also consider it a matter of kismet.
15
Malarkey
Pronounced: muh-LAR-kee
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: Speaking foolishness, nonsense, or insincerely
He dismissed the sales associate’s claims as malarkey, doubting their truthfulness.
16
Oomph
Pronounced: oomf
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A colloquial word to describe vitality or impact
The singer’s performance lacked oomph, leaving a lull in the audience’s energy.
17
Portmanteau
Pronounced: port-MAN-toe
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A combination of two or more words or word parts
Fun fact: Brunch isn’t only the best mealtime of the week, it’s also a portmanteau of “breakfast” and “lunch.”
18
Jabberwocky
Pronounced: JA-bur-waa-kee
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: Meaningless or nonsensical made-up language or words.
The toddler entertained everyone with jabberwocky that only she could understand.
19
Macabre
Pronounced: muh-KAAB
Part of speech: adjective
Meaning: Something gruesome, unsettling or disturbing, typically involving death
The abandoned house had a macabre atmosphere, with broken windows and deteriorating roof.
Probably originating from the Old French word macabé, it’s on our top list of spookiest words.
20
Nomenclature
Pronounced: NOE-muhn-klay-chr
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: The process of naming; a system or set of words and symbols in a certain field of study.
Dr. Owens meticulously studied the nomenclature of bird species, so each one is accurately classified and named according to the new standards.
21
Peewee
Pronounced: PEE-wee
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: Small in size, particularly a small child
Jeanie loves her peewee soccer team and looks forward to practice every day.
22
Quibble
Pronounced: KWI-bl
Part of speech: verb
Meaning: To complain or fixate on a trivial or small detail to avoid the main point of an argument
Instead of addressing our deeper communication issues, he quibbled over the marinara sauce.
23
Quintessential
Pronounced:
kwin-tuh-SEN-chl
Part of speech: adjective
Meaning: A precise and typical representation of something or someone
He was the epitome of a quintessential New Yorker—brazenly weaving through oncoming traffic.
24
Umbra
Pronounced:
UHM-bruh
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: A cone-shaped shadow caused by an opaque object blocking the light from a single source
When the solar eclipse began, those of us in the umbra actually felt the air get cooler.
25
Wunderkind
Pronounced:
VUN-der-kint
Part of speech: noun
Meaning: Typically, a young person or child with exceptional talent or skill in a particular field
The young point guard was considered a wunderkind, impressing college basketball recruiters with their sharp ball-handling.
Incorporating cool words into your writing
Expand your word bank by weaving these unusual words into your next writing project or by using them in everyday conversation. If you come across a word that sounds beautiful, has an unexpected meaning, or is spelled in a surprising way, add it to your own personal list of cool words to draw from while writing.
