One of my things on my 101 in 1000 days list is to learn 100 new English words. Yes, 100! Ambitious. I know. I have been collecting words I didn’t know for the past year – in conversations, books, blogposts and such. I am honest… I could probably not translate all of them or use them in a real life conversation as of today but I am getting there. Today I am sharing the first 25 words on the list. I tried to sort them a bit so the first 25 will be around nature and maritim life. Let’s dive in.
- Tripe – German: Kutteln – Tripe is a type of edible lining from the stomachs of various farm animals. Most tripe is from cattle and sheep. (Word provided by Kyria)
- Mullet – German: Vokuhila – Mullet is a hairstyle that is short in the front, top, and sides, but long in the back (Word provided by Kyria)
- Skullut – German: no translation – The skullet blends two iconic styles, the popular mullet and buzz cut (or skinhead) to create a hybrid look that’s both revellious and raw. (Word provided by Kyria)
- Jetty – German: Mole, Steg, Pier – A jetty is a man-made structure that protrudes from land out into water. A jetty may serve as a breakwater, as a walkway, or both. (Word provided by Kyria)
- Mere – German: Teich, kleiner See – An archaic or British noun, a mere refers to a shallow lake, pond, or pool of standing water. The phrase “mere water” essentially means a body of water or simple, unadulterated water. (Word provided by the book „The Art of Inheriting Secrets“ by Barbara O’Neal)
- Stevedoring – German: Verladung und Löschung von Schifffracht – Stevedoring is the vital logistical process of loading, unloading, and securing cargo between ships and the shore. It minimizes the time vessels spend in port by utilizing heavy machinery like cranes and forklifts. Stevedoring operations ensure that global supply chains continue to flow efficiently. – (Word provided by my client from the port business)
- Dyke (slang) – German: Lesbe – Dyke is a slang term, used as a noun meaning lesbian. It originated as a homophobic slur for masculine, butch, or androgynous girls or women. (Word provided by Kyria)
- Meat Bee aka Yellowjacket – German: Wespe – Meat bee is a common name for Yellowjackets, which are social wasps, not bees. Members of these genera are known simply as “wasps” in other English-speaking countries. (Word provided by Kyria)
- Skylark – German: Lerche – Skylark refers to a small, brown-speckled songbird native to Eurasia and northern Africa (Alauda arvensis), famous for singing loudly while hovering high in the air. (Word provided by the book „The Art of Inheriting Secrets“ by Barbara O’Neal)
- Osprey – German: Fischadler – The osprey historically known as sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. – (Word provided by the book „Laws of Love and Logic“ by Debra Curtis)
- Infamy – German: Schmach, Schande, Unverschämtheit, Infamie – Infamy is notoriety gained from actions considered dangerous, disrespectful, immoral, unethical, or otherwise perceived in a negative manner. (Word provided by Engie in this blog post )
- Susurration – German: Flüstern, Wispern, Murmeln (poetisch) – Susurration is a soft, murmuring, or whispering sound. It typically refers to a low, continuous, and almost inaudible noise, much like the gentle rustling of leaves in a breeze, the lapping of water against a shore, or quiet, indistinct conversation. (Word provided by the book „Book of Doors“ by Gareth Brown )
- Muskeg – German: Torfmoor, Sumpfland – Muskeg is a peat-forming ecosystem found in several northern climates, most commonly in Arctic and boreal areas. Muskeg consists of organic material in various states of decomposition (as peat), ranging from fairly intact sphagnum moss, to sedge peat, to highly decomposed humus. (Word provided by the show Port Protection)
- Peat – German: Torf – Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation and organic matter, typically found in wet, oxygen-deficient areas like bogs and mires. It is most commonly used as a soil amendment to improve moisture retention or dried and burned as a solid fuel for heating and cooking. (Word provided by the book „Vom Gehen und Bleiben“ by Petra Hucke)
- Estuary – German: Mündung, Meeresarm – An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water where freshwater from rivers or streams meets and mixes with saltwater from the open sea. – (Word provided by the book „Laws of Love and Logic“ by Debra Curtis)
- Dulse – German: Lappentang, Rotalge – Dulse is a nutrient-dense, edible red seaweed (Palmaria palmata) that grows naturally on the rocky coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Famous for its salty, savory, and slightly smoky flavor, it is eaten fresh, dried, or fried into a crispy, bacon-like snack. (Word provided by Elisabeth in this blog post)
- Rue – German: Weinraute – Rue is a hardy, evergreen perennial shrub with bluish-green leaves and small yellow flowers. Native to the Mediterranean, it is cultivated globally for its historical medicinal uses, ornamental appeal, and strong scent. [1, 2, 3] (Word provided by the book „The Art of Inheriting Secrets“ by Barbara O’Neal)
- Gillyflower – German: Gartennelke, Landnelke – Gillyflower is a historical English term for any of several fragrant, clove-scented plants. Most commonly, it refers to the carnation. (Word provided by the book „The Art of Inheriting Secrets“ by Barbara O’Neal)
- Rape – German: Raps – The “rape” plant (Brassica napus) is more commonly known as rapeseed or oilseed rape. It is a bright yellow, flowering member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is widely cultivated for its oil-rich seeds, which are primarily used to produce vegetable oil, animal fodder, and biodiesel. (Word provided by the book „The Art of Inheriting Secrets“ by Barbara O’Neal)
- Dogwood – German: Hartriegel, Hornstrauch – Dogwood is a deciduous shrub or small tree belonging to the genus Cornus. Highly prized in landscaping, it is known for its small clusters of flowers surrounded by four large, showy, petal-like leaves (bracts), dense branching, brightly colored winter stems, and hard wood. (Word provided by the book „Laws of Love and Logic“ by Debra Curtis)
- Copse – German: Wäldchen, Hain, Gehölz – A copse is a small thicket of bushes, shrubs, or small trees growing close together. It is often a designated, managed grove and is completely synonymous with the word “coppice”, from which it was originally shortened. (Word provided by the book „The Invisible life of Addie LaRue“ by V.E. Schwab)
- Verbose – German: wortreich, langatmig, weitschweifig – Verbose is an adjective describing speech, writing, or communication that uses more words than are necessary to convey a message. It often implies that the excess words create dullness or confusion. (Word provided by Elisabeth in this blog post)
- Hemlock – German: Schierlingstanne auch Schierling – Hemlocks are medium-sized to large evergreen trees, with a conical to irregular crown. The English-language common name “hemlock” arose from a perceived similarity in the smell of its crushed foliage to that of the unrelated poisonous plant hemlock. – (Word provided by the book „Laws of Love and Logic“ by Debra Curtis)
- Gossamer – German: hauchdünn, zart, Spinnfäden, Gespinnst auch Altweibersommer oder leichte Stoffe – Gossamer is an extremely light, delicate, and sheer substance. It literally refers to the fine, floating cobwebs spun by small spiders, often seen on autumn mornings. Metaphorically, the word is used to describe anything exceptionally airy, flimsy, or translucent, such as a bride’s veil or morning mist. – (Word provided by the book „The Invisible life of Addie LaRue“ by V.E. Schwab)
- Gelid – German: eiskalt, eisig kalt – As an adjective derived from Latin, gelid means extremely cold, icy, or frosty (e.g., “the gelid waters of the Arctic”). Metaphorically, it describes a cold, unemotional, or bitter demeanor. – (Word provided by the book „The Ministry of Time“ by Kaliane Bradley)
And this is it for today the first set of my 100 new English words. My first new word of the new English language I will try to remember, learn and look out for in books and blogposts and such.
Is there a word you have never heard of? Is there a word you use quite regular? Is there a word in this list that I need to adopt immediately in my vocabulary? Is there a word you would never use?
Photo courtesy: Glen Carrie auf Unsplash
