English facts

Here are some random English facts for all you lexiophiles (lovers of words):



The word 'queue' is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.


No word in the English language rhymes with 'month,' 'silver,' 'purple,' or 'orange.'


The words 'assassination' and 'bump' were invented by Shakespeare.


China has more English speakers than the United States.


The plural of mouse, the rodent, is mice. The plural of mouse, the computer hardware device, is mouses.


Widow is the only female form in the English language that is shorter than its corresponding male term (widower).


The longest one-syllable word in the English language is 'screeched.'


The letter most in use in the English language is 'E' and the letter 'Q' is least used.


Pinocchio is Italian for 'pine head.'


The word 'lethologica' describes the state of not being able to remember the word you want.


The phrase 'sleep tight' originated when mattresses were set upon ropes woven through the bed frame. To remedy sagging ropes, one would use a bed key to tighten the rope.


The word 'set' has more definitions than any other word in the English language.


In Chinese, the words for crisis and opportunity are the same.


There is no synonym for 'thesaurus.'


The first word spoken on the moon was 'okay.'


The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with.


Karaoke means 'empty orchestra' in Japanese.


The word 'nerd' was first coined by Dr. Seuss in 'If I ran the Zoo'.


And one not so related to English, but mind blowing none-the-less: If the population of China walked past you in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.




For more English facts visit Oddities and Interesting Things.