Words that sound pretty, but their meanings are not

I think anemia and urea are beautiful words to say. They have a musical quality, IMHO. However, saying “urea” over and over again as a meditation mantra is a bad idea, trust me.

Are there words that sound good to you, but don’t say often because they’re inappropriate or obscure?

Yersinia

Ooze

“Chlamydia” would make a lovely name for a girl.

I thought the same thing about “Ambergris”.

Syphilis, diarrhea, and lesion. Mmmmm.

I once read that some experts selected “cuspidor” as the most beautiful word in English. Something that holds spit.

Yersinia is a great one. :slight_smile:

Effluent is another one that rolls off the lips, but has unpleasant connotations.

Sailboat

Meretricious

Grotesque.

Sounds elegant. It’s not.

There’s someplace around that uses Candida as a business name. Granted they are a biotech firm and all, but still.

Fallopian - one of my favorite words to say!

Asbestosis.

Mine too!

Angina.

Yonic - not really dirty but good sound and a useful word to know

At the other end of the scale is the word “pulchritude,” which just does not sound like what it means.

As well as “fecund”.

Dementia sounds like a Greek goddess.

Sweetbreads

Dysentery

Choleric

Sycophantic

Cyanide

Drizzle

Flatulence

Tinia