# What words do you often see in print but never hear in spoken communication? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 24, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455 "2015-04-24T17:32:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/41 "2015-04-27T05:08:06Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > The phrase “tu quoque” I think I’ve never heard aloud, I would have no idea how to correctly pronounce it. In many dialects of Internetese, it’s pronounced [“no u”](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/no-u). ---
**Author:** ![jezzaOZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/42 "2015-04-27T05:35:41Z")
“Pluvial” is a good word to drop into conversations. Especially ones about New Zealand. It leaves the listener quite flummoxed about what it means. Most think it’s a political term. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/43 "2015-04-27T16:25:24Z")
> [@Cara\_mel](#): > > When we studied Dickens in high school our English teacher made sure we said “vittles”, and I have since felt like I’m the only person who knows that. > > I sometimes read about a US city called “Decatur.” It looks kind of French so I’m not sure how to say it, but I’ve never bothered to look it up. Eighter from Decatur. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/44 "2015-04-27T17:42:02Z")
I tried to post the name of the protein “titin” (C[sub]169723[/sub]H[sub]270464[/sub]N[sub]45688[/sub]O[sub]52243[/sub]S[sub]912[/sub]) but the forum would not let me make a post that long (it would take at least 8 posts, which would have been pointless and too much work). There is a video of a guy uttering the name, but I have better ways to use 3 hours. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/45 "2015-04-27T18:33:32Z")
Dudgeon. Calumny. I may have heard \*atavistic \*occasionally spoken, but I can’t think of when. ---
**Author:** ![BaldDudePeekskill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@BaldDudePeekskill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaldDudePeekskill)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/46 "2015-04-28T00:33:41Z")
Erstwhile Inasmuch as Fecund Moribund Jovial defenestrate Ok, so I try and work them into conversation, because I’m a geek that way ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/47 "2015-04-28T00:34:10Z")
Limnology. Spell check even hates it. Merganser. No idea how to pronounce that bird. Most pasta shapes, like farfalle and tagliatella. Many Latin-derived terms seldom used in the singular form, such as flagellum and datum. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/48 "2015-04-28T00:44:07Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I may have heard \*atavistic \*occasionally spoken, but I can’t think of when. You probably overheard me talking, somewhere. > [@BaldDudePeekskill](#): > > Erstwhile > Inasmuch as > Fecund > Moribund > Jovial > defenestrate > > Ok, so I try and work them into conversation, because I’m a geek that way I have used erstwhile in speech, usually in the sense of alter-ego type thing. An inasmuch, when it is appropriate (it sounds no different from “in as much”, so it is not awkward or confusing). And “defenestrate”, that word is so cool, “_Fail to defenestrate your wrappers! I don’t wanna get a ticket._” ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/49 "2015-04-28T00:51:40Z")
It was a very long time before I heard “synecdoche” pronounced, although I’d read it tons of times. When the movie _Synecdoche, New York_ came out, and some reviewers were flummoxed\* by the word and its pronounciation, I was all on my high horse because I knew about it. Well, it turned out that I was pronouncing it wrong. Oops. :smack: And don’t ask me to spell it, I’ll probably screw it up. On the other hand, I have been known to drop “metonymy” into casual conversation ever so often. Surprisingly useful, really. I’m no big fan of “synecdoche”, to be honest, it’s a bit too over-specific. “Metonymy” has you covered. \*BTW, I guess “flummoxed” is another one. Who ever says that out loud? ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/50 "2015-04-28T02:12:42Z")
My 10 year old granddaughter and I had the following conversation a few weeks ago after she pointed out a certain house that had a “face”: Me: well, the human brain has an amazing capacity to recognize patterns and see faces… Granddaughter: Yeah, that’s an example of pareidolia. Me. Yes, dear, yes, it is. For me: the name Persephone, divergence, debacle, winsome ---
**Author:** ![jezzaOZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/51 "2015-04-28T02:41:15Z")
> [@BaldDudePeekskill](#): > > Erstwhile > Inasmuch as > Fecund > Moribund > Jovial > defenestrate > > Ok, so I try and work them into conversation, because I’m a geek that way I actually have had a conversation along the lines of “Did you visit the defenestration of Prague?” “Actually both the first and second defenestration” ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/52 "2015-04-29T01:02:36Z")
I rarely, if ever, hear _penultimate_ used in speech. Most people would just say something like _next-to-last_. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/53 "2015-04-29T01:33:53Z")
Fetid Noisome Tenebrous (Gotta go check “'Salem’s Lot.”) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/54 "2015-05-03T21:56:20Z")
Saw “assiduously” in a crossword recently. Not at all common in itself, but just plain “assiduous” pops up now and then in print but I don’t think it gets spoken much, especially among people under 50. It is now my Word of the Week. I use it assiduously. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Angry\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@The\_Angry\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Angry_Badger)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/55 "2015-05-03T22:06:21Z")
Albeit. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it spoken. I’m not sure I know how to pronounce it… ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/56 "2015-05-03T22:12:11Z")
> [@The\_Angry\_Badger](#): > > Albeit. > > I don’t think I’ve ever heard it spoken. I’m not sure I know how to pronounce it… You probably have heard it and just didn’t realize it. It is used but it sounds like three small words spoken quickly together when pronounced so your brain probably just skips over it. It is pronounced al (like short for Albert) - be - it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Angry\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@The\_Angry\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Angry_Badger)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455/57 "2015-05-03T22:24:54Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > You probably have heard it and just didn’t realize it. It is used but it sounds like three small words spoken quickly together when pronounced so your brain probably just skips over it. It is pronounced al (like short for Albert) - be - it. Yeah, I always figured it was pronounced like that (thanks for the confirmation, though!) - it was either going to be that or al-bait or awl-bait (English is a funny old language sometimes!). I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard it spoken though; I’ve been actively listening out for it for years now, but if I have heard it I’ve not noticed. IME, in spoken language people tend to use ‘though’ or ‘although’ instead. Maybe it’s more of a US thing (I’m from the UK)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-often-see-in-print-but-never-hear-in-spoken-communication/718455.md?page=2)