Since childhood, we tend to keep our ears open to come across interesting things. So many of us kept a tab on the amazing facts in classrooms, newspapers, and informative television shows. While Vocabulary Today usually focuses on catering to the needs of English learners, we thought why not make this article interesting.
Did you know that the English language also possesses some unique secrets? You might or might not have heard of them before, but you will surely enjoy this article. After all, the more the knowledge, the more the fun to flaunt it.
Amazing Facts about the English Language
1. The Plural Words
We all understand the concept of singular and plural quite well. But did you know that there are some words in the English language that do not have a singular form at all? Words like spectacles, glasses, jeans, scissors, pants, binoculars, etc. are all examples of words that exist only in the plural form.
2. Lol
The slang lol caught up so well, that people now confuse on how to expand it. Nonetheless, by the time the world used it at every opportunity, dictionaries decide to make space for this fun abbreviation. The Oxford Dictionary was one among them that added Lol to their official glossary in the year 2011. Surely deserves a spot in our list of amazing facts, right?
3. Pronunciation or mispronounce
Pronunciation is one word that requires maximum attention, because, of course, the meaning itself is such. But, weirdly so, it is the most mispronounced word in the English Language. Funny, isn’t it?
4. Butterfly or not?
These amazing facts of the English language are certainly becoming more intriguing. Well, we bet you don’t know that the word butterfly isn’t what it was initially called. Earlier, the word was flutterby. Pretty similar, and yet different.
All about Phrases- Advanced Elementary Grammar Lessons
5. Consecutive three letters
There are several double-letter words in the English language. But, there aren’t many three-letter words. In fact, there are just two such words, and they’re both interrelated. The words are bookkeeping and bookkeeper. See how the letters of, k, and e are doubled up in both the words?
6. Shakespeare and invention
Sometimes, don’t we just sit and wonder how a word came into existence? We leave the matter
thinking that probably some linguists, and now the online world are responsible for it. The dictionaries then just add it. But here’s another one of our amazing facts from the English language. Shakespeare also invented several words, some of them being eyeball, milk, luggage, etc. So cool!
7. Word Order
Have you heard of the word abstemious? Ait is an adjective that means to indulge in something to a
moderate extent, especially in cases of food and drinks. What’s unique about the word is that the
spelling it in alphabetical order. You just went back and checked, didn’t you?
8. The letter Q
It isn’t a surprise that we don’t come across the letter q so often. In fact, according to statistics, out of the millions of words, only 1 in 510 words contain the letter Q. Quite queer a fact; ain’t it?
9. And now the letter E
Alright, this one is really interesting. Out of the 26 alphabets, the letter E comprises 11% of the English
language. Meaning to say, so many words include the letter E, that it makes up 11% of the language.
10. Good and Time
If you’re wondering why we’re using these words as a pair, then let’s put that thought at rest. This
comes from our data on amazing facts in the English language. Apparently, good is the most commonly used adjective, while the word time is the most commonly used noun.
11. Tongue Twister Time
We all love tongue twisters, don’t we? So many have come and gone, but there’s always that one tongue twister that gets the best of us. In the English language, there’s one that is considered most difficult. Try it- “Sixitth sick Sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.” If you master this one, let us know in the comment section below.
12. The Sky is the Limit
Here’s another one from our bag if amazing facts from the English language. Pilots, whether they fly national or international, have to use English as their official language of communication. The announcements, if any, introduction, or other communication with the crew has to be done officially in the English language. It is only then that they may repeat the same in other languages if required.
13. Listen or Silent?
Listen is a word that asks for one’s attention while silencing for once’es quietness. But what makes these opposite words fun? Observe, and you will find that both words contain the same letters. Jumble them up, and they become another. Super cool?
14. Go!
Oh no! We’re not asking you to go. We’re trying to establish yet another amazing facts of the English language. It is the shortest sentence in English, which is grammatically correct. It need not any other words to complete it. Lesser the effort, the better, isn’t it?
15. The “ous” words
There are only four words in the English language that end with “ous.” They are:- tremendous, stupendous, hazardous, and horrendous. Are there really no more? Well, worth looking for!
Here’s our list of 15 amazing facts in the English language, and we’re sure that it was fun. Check out Vocabulary Today for more such interesting reads.
Discussion about this post