Favourite Words

The Top 10s for Various Favourite-Word Categories

If you ask someone their favourite word, you might get an answer like "serendipity," "peace," or "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." The first answer would be a favourite for its beautiful sound and meaning, the second for its power and meaning, and the third for its novelty and complexity. Scouring the internet for "top 10 favourite words" lists, I found dozens of lists, but generally they feature words from just one of the categories, most commonly the "beautiful sound and meaning" (or aesthetically pleasing) category. It was clear that there wasn't a definitive top 10 favourite words. So, I decided to write this "top tens" list linked to a voting system that could get us closer to that definitive "top 10" list. Let's call it the Wordsmith's Premier League (WPL).

Favourite-Word Lists by Category

Here are ten categories under which a word could be considered a favourite. These categories are ordered from the most common favourite-word context to the least common context.

(1) Most Beautiful Words

These are words loved for aesthetic appeal (a mix of how they sound and their meaning). They are currently listed in alphabetical order so any voting is not influenced.

posn	word	comment
1	aurora	An aurora is a natural light display in the Earth's sky caused by the collision of solar wind and magnetospheric charged particles with the high altitude atmosphere.
2	ephemeral	Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time. It is similar to fleeting or transient.
3	epiphany	An epiphany is a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.
4	ethereal	Ethereal means delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world. It is similar to heavenly or celestial
5	idyllic	Idyllic is the adjective of idyll. It means extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.
6	iridescent	Iridescent means displaying luminous colours that seem to change when seen from different angles.
7	luminescence	Luminescence is the emission of light by a substance not resulting from heat. It can occur through chemical reactions, electricity, or stress.
8	luminous	Luminous meanings emitting or reflecting light. It is similar to glowing or shining.
9	serendipity	Serendipity is the discovery of something good that was not sought but found nonetheless. It is like a pleasant surprise.
10	solitude	Solitude is the state of being alone. Often it refers to a solitary environment where peace or introspection is discovered.

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(2) Most Powerful Words

These are words that evoke strong emotions or have significant meanings. They are listed in alphabetical order. Vote for your favourite.

posn	word	comment
1	compassion	Compassion is the awareness of another's suffering and the desire to alleviate it.
2	cuddle	A cuddle is close and affectionate embrace to comfort or express affection.
3	faith	Faith is total trust or confidence in someone or something. In a religious context, it means a belief based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.
4	freedom	Freedom means not being imprisoned or enslaved. It is also the right to act and speak without restraint.
5	harmony	Harmony is a state or system with balance, unity, and coherence among its discrete elements.
6	home	Home is the place where someone lives permanently, especially as a family member. It conveys a a sense of personal sanctuary and belonging.
7	hope	Hope is an optimistic mindset. It is the expectation of a positive outcome.
8	love	Love is an intense feeling of deep affection towards someone or something. It also refers to a great interest and pleasure in something.
9	lullaby	A lullaby is a soothing song sung to calm or send a child to sleep.
10	peace	Peace means freedom from disturbance or tranquillity. In a broader sense, it refers being free from war or violence.

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(3) Philosophical or Spiritual Words

Loved for inspiring reflection and a quest for deeper understanding, these words capture profound concepts about the nature of existence and the human experience. They are listed in alphabetical order. Vote for your favourite.

posn	word	comment
1	chakra	In Indian thought, chakras are the centres of spiritual power in the human body, usually considered to be seven in number.
2	dharma	In Indian religions, dharma is the eternal and inherent nature of reality (a cosmic law underlying right behaviour and social order).
3	enlightenment	In spiritual contexts, enlightenment refers to an awakening to a profound understanding of life and the universe.
4	equanimity	Equanimity is a mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.
5	existentialism	Existentialism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice.
6	karma	In Hinduism and Buddhism, karma is the concept that a person's actions in this and previous states of existence determine their fate in future existences.
7	nirvana	In Buddhism, nirvana is a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self.
8	satori	In Zen Buddhism, satori is a sudden moment of awakening or enlightenment where one experiences the true nature of existence.
9	tao	In Chinese religions, tao is the essential, unifying principle of the universe. Encapsulating yin and yang, it represents the natural order of things, the flow of the cosmos, or the universal force that underlies everything.
10	zen	Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes the value of meditation and intuition rather than ritual worship or study of scriptures.

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(4) Linguistically Interesting Words

These are words that are loved for their length, novelty, or complexity. They are listed in alphabetical order. Vote for your favourite.

posn	word	comment
1	abstemious	Abstemious means showing moderation or self-discipline, especially with food or alcohol. (It has all 5 vowels in order.)
2	antidisestablishment -arianism	Antidisestablishmentarianism refers to a 19th-century political position that opposed separating the Church of England from the state.
3	facetious	Facetious means playfully, often inappropriately, funny. (It has all 5 vowels in order.)
4	Iouea	Iouea is a genus of sea sponge. (It comprises only vowels. As a proper noun, it starts with a capital letter.)
5	onomatopoeia	Onomatopoeia is a term to describe words that imitate or evoke the sound of what they represent (e.g., "buzz," "sizzle").
6	logosglyph	A logosglyph is a word that looks like what it means (e.g., "eyes" look like eyes, and "bed" looks like a bed).
7	spryly	Spryly means nimble, i.e., moving with speed and ease. (It comprises only consonants.)
8	sylphy	Sylphy means gracefully slender and fairy-like. (It comprises only consonants.)
9	syzygy	Syzygy is an astronomical term for the alignment of three celestial bodies in a straight line, commonly used for the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon. (It comprises only consonants.)
10	tmesis	Tmesis is the insertion of a word (usually an expletive) within another word (e.g., "abso-bl**dy-lutely,")

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(5) Words in Popular Culture

These are words that have become famous or trendy due to their use in movies, TV shows, songs, or internet culture. They are listed in alphabetical order. Vote for your favourite.

posn	word	comment
1	bazinga	First used in the X files, "Bazinga!" is a catchphrase popularized by Sheldon Cooper in "The Big Bang Theory". It is an exclamation of success.
2	cowabunga	"Cowabunga!" was popularized by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It is an express of delight or satisfaction.
3	d'oh	D'oh is an exclamation popularized by Homer Simpson in "The Simpsons". It is used to acknowledge a stupid action, especially your own.
4	facepalm	Widely used on the internet, a facepalm (🤦) is a gesture indicating frustration or embarrassment.
5	FOMO	The acronym FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) was popularized through social media and internet culture.
6	Jedi	The Jedis are a central order in the "Star Wars" universe. They are associated with wisdom and special powers.
7	muggle	In the "Harry Potter" universe, a muggle is a person who lacks magical ability.
8	quidditch	In the "Harry Potter" universe, quidditch is a sport played in the "Harry Potter" series.
9	supercalifragilistic -expialidocious	Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is a meaningless word made popular by Disney's character "Mary Poppins," who suggests it describes something fantastic or extraordinary.
10	zombie	A zombie was originally a mythical undead being from Haitian folklore. It is now a staple in popular culture representing mindless "corpses."

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(6) Words in Literature or Poetry

Words that are famous for their use by, or reference to, classic writers and poets. They are listed in alphabetical order. Vote for your favourite.

posn	word	comment
1	Dantesque	Dantesque refers to hellish or infernal aspects. It comes from Dante Alighieri or his writings, especially the "Divine Comedy."
2	Dickensian	Dickensian refers to environments and situations depicted in the novels of Charles Dickens, especially those reflecting societal injustices.
3	Draconian	Draconian means excessively harsh and severe. It originates from the legal code of Draco in ancient Athens.
4	Homeric	Homeric means epic in scale or character, like the works of Homer ("The Iliad" and "The Odyssey").
5	Kafkaesque	Kafkaesque means marked by a senseless, disorienting complexity, akin to the works of Franz Kafka.
6	Lilliputian	Lilliputian means extremely small. It is from Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels."
7	Machiavellian	Machiavellian means cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics, akin to the tactics in Machiavelli's "The Prince."
8	Orwellian	Orwellian refers to the oppressive and totalitarian characteristics depicted in George Orwell's works, especially "1984."
9	Puckish	Puckish means mischievous. It derives from the character Puck in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
10	Quixotic	Quixotic means idealistic and unrealistic, originating from Cervantes' "Don Quixote."

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(7) Words in Science and Technology

These words are loved for their association with the frontiers of knowledge. They are listed in alphabetical order. Vote for your favourite.

posn	word	comment
1	algorithm	An algorithm is a set of rules followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, particularly by a computer.
2	entropy	A key concept in thermodynamics, entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a closed system.
3	ether	Often used in the context of the "ethernet" to describe a network technology, the ether is literally the upper regions of air beyond the clouds.
4	hologram	A hologram is a three-dimensional image formed by the interference of light beams from a laser or other coherent light source.
5	nanobot	A nanobot is a tiny robot designed at the nanoscale, often used in science-fiction and future-technology discussions.
6	pixel	A pixel is tiny area of illumination on a display screen. They are the building blocks of digital images.
7	quantum	The term quantum refers to the minimum amount of any physical entity involved in an interaction.
8	sapphire	When describing screens and other electrical components, sapphire means highly durable.
9	vortex	A vortex is a swirling mass of fluid or air. The image of one is often used to symbolize dynamic activity or energy.
10	zenith	A zenith is a peak or the highest point. In technology, it implies the pinnacle of achievement or development.

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(8) Words with Cultural or National Significance

These are words loved for their unique meanings in different nations or cultures. They are listed in alphabetical order. Vote for your favourite.

posn	word	comment
1	gigil	In the Philippines (Tagalog language), gigil is the irresistible urge to squeeze someone because you love them or find them adorable.
2	hiraeth	In Welsh, hiraeth is a homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, perhaps a home that never was.
3	hygge	In Danish, hygge is a feeling of contentment through enjoying the simple things in life.
4	ikigai	In Japanese, ikigai is the reason for being (the thing that gets you up in the morning).
5	mamihlapinatapai	In Tierra del Fuego, mamihlapinatapai is a look between two people, each wishing the other would initiate something they both desire.
6	meraki	In Greek, meraki is doing something with soul, creativity, or love.
7	malavogue	In Irish, malavogue means "to beat." It is typically used by parents in threats to their children.
8	sobremesa	In Spanish, sobremesa is the time spent after lunch or dinner, talking to those people you dined with.
9	tartle	In Scottish, a tartle is the hesitation while introducing someone because you've forgotten their name.
10	ubuntu	Ubuntu is a term from Zulu and Xhosa (southern Africa). Often translated as "I am because we are," ubuntu means "humanity," emphasizing community, compassion, and the interconnectedness of all people.

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(9) Most Commonly Used Words

These are the most frequently used words in English. I'm not expecting many of these to make the WPL. These words are listed from most common to least common. (You cannot vote for these words. Their order is not subjective.)

posn	word	comment
1	the	"The" is the definite article.
2	be	To be is the most common verb in English.
3	to	"To" is a preposition or the sign of an infinitive verb.
4	of	Of is a preposition.
5	and	"And" is a coordinating conjunction.
6	a	"A" (and "An") is the indefinite article.
7	in	"In" is a preposition commonly used with times and places.
8	that	"That" can be used as a conjunction, a demonstrative pronoun, a demonstrative determiner, a relative pronoun , and even an adverb. "I think that that explains why that word that we've just mentioned is that common!" (All five uses in order.)
9	have	To have is the second most common verb in English.
10	I	"I" is the most common personal pronoun in English.

(10) Words with Personal Significance

This list deserves a heading, but it cannot include any words because they are personalized to every individual.

Words That Overlap Categories

None of the words in these lists is repeated (i.e., no word appears in two lists). However, several words could have. For example:

• Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious could have appeared in "Linguistically Interesting Words" for its complexity as well as "Words in Popular Culture."
• Sylphy could have appeared in "Most Beautiful Words" for its sound and meaning as well as "Linguistically Interesting Words."
• Cuddle could have appeared in "Most Beautiful Words" for its sound and meaning as well as "Most Powerful Words."

So, when thinking about your overall favourite word, bear in mind that it could have merits from more than one of the 10 categories listed.

Popularity of Words

The popularity of a word is an interesting aspect when considering a favourite word. A word must be popular enough to be known, yet not so popular as to be boring. You don't want your favourite word to be the same as everyone else's, do you? Where's the fun in that?

There are some brilliant words that have not made these lists, simply because they are still relatively unknown. I think the following four words are worthy of special mention:

posn	word	comment
1	mellifluous	Mellifluous combines mel ("honey") and fluere ("to flow"). It describes sweet, smoothly flowing music or sound (e.g., the mellifluous waltz "The Blue Danube")
2	incandescent	Literally, incandescent means emitting light as a result of being heated. Figuratively, it describes someone displaying intense emotion or brilliance (e.g., incandescent with rage).
3	sonorous	Sonorous refers to a sound that is deep and resonant. It often describes a voice that is full, powerful, and pleasant (e.g., perfectly complemented his sonorous voice).
4	kerfuffle	Kerfuffle is a fun word that means minor commotion, argument, or fuss.

If your favourite word is not on this page and you think it should be, please let me know. I am compiling a list of reserves too. If it's a great word, it could move straight into the list above.

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Hangman is a classic word game. In this version, the hidden word is an irregular verb from this list. (Choose your first letter to start.) Show Instructions

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