# Favourite word or word combination. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189 "2007-08-20T00:19:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/41 "2007-08-23T17:30:31Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Mellifluous has a nice ring to it. [/QUOTE] And “euphonious” is quite… uh, what’s the word? It sounds nice, at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/42 "2007-08-23T17:46:16Z")
I like: Pleonasm Majuscule and of course, this combination: Hot Fudge Sundae ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/43 "2007-08-23T18:34:13Z")
[QUOTE=beowulff] and of course, this combination: Hot Fudge Sundae [/QUOTE] [Entenmann’s] Rich Frosted Doughnut ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/44 "2007-08-23T21:39:26Z")
[QUOTE=jackdavinci] Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. [/QUOTE] Actually, you can go further with that one, and still have a grammatically correct and readily parsable sentence: [Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo). One I’ve fancied since childhood is “I’d’ve,” which I have always enjoyed for its having two apostrophes. Not too many other contractions can claim that pedigree (I can only think of one other, “wouldn’t’ve,” which just feels sloppy). ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/45 "2007-08-23T22:13:49Z")
[QUOTE=Only Mostly Dead] Actually, you can go further with that one, and still have a grammatically correct and readily parsable sentence: [Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo). [/QUOTE] Ahhh… this is obviously some strange use of the word _readily_ that I wasn’t previously aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/46 "2007-08-23T22:35:37Z")
> [@](#): > > One I’ve fancied since childhood is “I’d’ve,” which I have always enjoyed for its having two apostrophes. Not too many other contractions can claim that pedigree (I can only think of one other, “wouldn’t’ve,” which just feels sloppy). I’ven’t a clue what you mean by that. There are also some in naval use, such as “Bo’s’n” (“Boatswain”) and “Fo’c’sle” (“Forecastle”). **jackdavinci** , how can you mention “autokinetikon” without its partner, “ipsemobile”? And I’ll add “tintinnabulation” (the sound of bells) to the list. It just trips off the tongue. “Hemidemisemiquaver” (a sixty-fourth note) is also fun. Or, heck, even just “quaver” (an eighth note). “Plectrum” (the part of a harpsichord which plucks the strings) works, too. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/47 "2007-08-23T22:56:13Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] In related news, my current favorite is “Charismatic Megafauna”. [/QUOTE] I was tickled to discover, via the Moot ™ game, that the plural of Charisma is Charismata. Ah, the onus of celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/48 "2007-08-24T00:41:43Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] “Hemidemisemiquaver” (a sixty-fourth note) is also fun. [/QUOTE] Why stop there? Try a [semihemidemisemiquaver](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_twenty-eighth_note) for size. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/49 "2007-08-24T01:13:03Z")
A contradictory oxymoron is a tautology. (Of course a repetitive tautology is an oxymoron.) ---
**Author:** ![pprgrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f6c823/32.png) [@pprgrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pprgrl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/50 "2007-08-24T01:50:39Z")
Episcopalian Anchorite. Actually, Episcopalian is probably my favorite word to say out loud just on its own. If I ever go back to religion, I’m gonna become Episcopalian just so I can say it all the time. I’ll even introduce myself that way - “Hi, I’m pprgrl, and I’m an Episcopalian.” Episcopalian episcopalian episcopalian! ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/51 "2007-08-24T04:50:35Z")
[QUOTE=pprgrl] Episcopalian Anchorite. Actually, Episcopalian is probably my favorite word to say out loud just on its own. If I ever go back to religion, I’m gonna become Episcopalian just so I can say it all the time. I’ll even introduce myself that way - “Hi, I’m pprgrl, and I’m an Episcopalian.” Episcopalian episcopalian episcopalian! [/QUOTE] “Episcopalian, savin’ all my love for you!” – Bill Bryson (I think) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/52 "2007-08-24T13:03:55Z")
[QUOTE=Yllaria] I was tickled to discover, via the Moot ™ game, that the plural of Charisma is Charismata. Ah, the onus of celebrity. [/QUOTE] Ooo, cool. Dogma –\> dogmas or dogmata Stigma –\> stigmata Magma –\> magmas or magmata Smegma –\> no plural given Thanks for sending me exploring! ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/53 "2007-08-24T15:28:50Z")
[QUOTE=pprgrl] Episcopalian Anchorite. Actually, Episcopalian is probably my favorite word to say out loud just on its own. If I ever go back to religion, I’m gonna become Episcopalian just so I can say it all the time. I’ll even introduce myself that way - “Hi, I’m pprgrl, and I’m an Episcopalian.” Episcopalian episcopalian episcopalian! [/QUOTE] Well and good. But will you be a didactic Episcopalian? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/54 "2007-08-24T20:43:35Z")
The Onion included “titular archbishopric” in its list of words that sound dirty but really aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![potato\_pan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@potato\_pan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/potato_pan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/55 "2007-08-25T03:22:03Z")
dialectic pugilism As in, "Don’t EVEN ATTEMPT to engage ME in dialectic pugilism 'cause you’re out of your league and you’ll end up getting your ASS kicked, laying on the floor, kicking and screaming, and crying for your mommy. Got it, SMARTASS!!! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/56 "2007-08-25T03:28:19Z")
I’ve always liked the word ‘plummet’. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/57 "2007-08-26T04:45:59Z")
Cheque enclosed. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/58 "2007-08-26T08:28:47Z")
toy boat ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/59 "2007-08-26T09:06:53Z")
Bosky zarf. We named a nearby stray cat with this appellation after one too many rounds of Scrabble. (So the cat’s name means “a small stand for a hot beverage, surrounded by bushes.”) ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189/60 "2007-08-26T09:43:45Z")
The German word for nurse - Krankenschwester. It makes me laugh for some reason. I’m easily amused. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-word-or-word-combination/416189.md?page=4)