English words the world likes…

My last post was about words we don’t like. This one’s about words we do.

To celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2009, the British Council conducted a poll to find out its students’ favourite English words. The top ten were:

  1. Love
  2. God
  3. Peace
  4. Awesome
  5. Hello
  6. Freedom
  7. Gorgeous
  8. Sunshine
  9. Health
  10. Happiness

In another poll, carried out (I think) in 2004, the Council’s students judged the following to be the most beautiful English words:

  1. Mother
  2. Passion
  3. Smile
  4. Love
  5. Eternity
  6. Fantastic
  7. Destiny
  8. Freedom
  9. Liberty
  10. Tranquillity

In both surveys, people appear to have based their choice on the aspirations or ideals the words stand for, rather than their aesthetic qualities. Love and freedom, present in both lists, seem to be our most cherished ideals.

On a less lofty level, chocolate, at no. 12, almost made it into the top ten in last year’s poll, so the world’s English-language students have clearly got their gastronomic priorities right. Other favourite food words are cucumber (27), cheesecake (43), mushroom (51), peach (54), ice-cream (70), pizza (71) and coconut, in 73rd place. I suspect, though, that cucumber at least was chosen for considerations other than flavour.

My own favourite words (ideals and aspirations aside) are almond, glamour and scent. I also like foible, not for its beauty but for its quirky sound – such a good match for its meaning.

I love almond for its long, smooth syllables, soft consonants and for the mental image it always brings to mind of an almond tree in full blossom. And I adore salted almonds (hard to find in Glasgow!), especially at aperitivo time.

Glamour I love for its sense of bewitching allure, and for its old Scots meaning of magical spell or enchantment. And aren’t allure, bewitching and enchantment wonderful words too?

Scent (no. 66 in the British Council poll) conjures up the scent of roses and of exotic foods scented with spices or with rose or orange water. And what could be more glamorous than the image of a beautifully chic woman sitting at her dressing table and dabbing scent (one of the classics: Arpège, Guerlain, Caron…) behind her ears?

Favourite words welcome in the comments!

By Marian Dougan

Published by Marian Dougan

Marian is a translator and editor (specialising in web content) currently based in Glasgow, Scotland. Marian previously lived in Italy for over 20 years, working as a language teacher, translator and policy analyst with the British Embassy in Rome. A qualified member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and its Italian-language and ITI Scotnet networks, she is currently Scotnet's Convenor and Deputy Webmaster. From 2003 to 2006 Marian taught translation skills at the Italian Department of Glasgow University and now gives Master Classes as part of the new Masters in Translation Studies course. She also conducts web-writing and usability workshops to help people improve their websites and communicate more effectively with their readers, users and customers. In September 2014 Marian obtained User Experience Certification, with specialisation in Web Design, from the Nielsen Norman Group. She loves language, especially English, and is convinced that learning languages opens up people’s minds and horizons (and increases their brainpower!). To share her enthusiasm, she advises schools and educational authorities on language skills and enterprise. She gives talks to pupils on how to combine language studies with other subjects and so enhance their potential and increase their career options. Marian is an active member of organisations such as: Scottish Council Development and Industry (SCDI); Association of Scottish Businesswomen; Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Scotland. She also loves architecture, design, fashion (British Vogue!), cities and chocolate. She’s a great fan of Twitter and you can also find her on Linkedin.

Join the conversation

10 Comments

    1. We’ve just been talking at dinner about immigrants and bigotry (now there’s a word to really dislike!). My favourite Scottish words are “bahookie” (Glaswegian) and the incredibly useful “outwith”

  1. Hands down has to be crapulent followed by loquacious and facilitate. A pleasure to say and the definitions make me smile.

  2. Well, I like to hear the words “of course” because they mean more than just “yes” and I love the German word for this which is “selbstverstaendlich” which is just lovely to say. I also like the work gorgeous because it can be used to describe so many things: food, weather, people (and not just their looks). I also had a friend who used to say it in a lovely Northern English accent, drawling out the first syllable. If I have to chose a word I just like the sound of it has to be the French word “pepin” (pronounced paypun” which means a snag or hitch/problem but can often be used as a gross understatement (sorry I can’t think of an English word I just like saying for the sake of it).

  3. My favourite is ‘overwhelmed’ – don’t really know why! Although just a thought – why can’t you be underwhlemed?

  4. My favourite word, chosen not for what it stands for, but purely for the word itself, is “sonbahar”, the Turkish word for “autumn”. When I hear it, I see the sun caressing the edge of a forest and the tips of trees half hidden in fog and wet leaves that have fallen to the ground. I can instantly smell autumn. Son.ba.har. It resonates physically and emotionally. It echoes strength and melancholy. What a word!

Leave a comment

Have your say!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.