There are a lot of injustices and inequalities in our world. Whether it’s access to healthcare, living in a food desert, growing up in areas with high rates of illiteracy - these are all things we’re aware of.
One I don’t hear spoken about as much (though it relates to education & illiteracy) that I’ve seen play out in real life is the disparity in vocabulary and language and how that shapes the rest of your world.
It’s not our actions we use to control our surroundings, it’s our words.
(This is getting abstract and serious because I’m a little stoned).
A fight might happen because the people fighting don’t have the language to be able to deescalate a situation. A break-up might happen because a person or the people in the relationship may not be able to describe their emotions.
You can diffuse a situation or communicate your feelings when you know the words to do those things. When you don’t even know the words exist, how do you know the feeling?
Anyway — remember the scene in Clueless when Cher talks about the importance of vocabulary then teaches Tai the word “sporadically”? Partially because of that and partially because of my insecurity about being ESL - I did this thing everyday where I would pull 1 SAT vocabulary word a day and incorporate it into my vocabulary. I don’t do that anymore but here are some of my favorite words, phrases, etc.
I use these. And I like them. They may not deescalate a fight or help you through a breakup but maybe they’ll help your world feel a little bigger.
And with that.
Away.We.Go.
Getting in a row
This is the British English version of saying you got into a little spat
It feels gentler though so next time you’re describing a little tiff - refer to it as a row (rhymes with cow)
Gauche
I use this all the time to describe everything and everyone
It means you have no tact, manners - you lack social graces and you’re tacky
I’m so sorry I called you gauche
Crown shyness
This is when trees naturally start touching above you creating this magical beautiful archway
When you’re on a date, walking down the street and the street is beautiful with crown shyness - point it out to your date then kiss them on the lips. It’ll be romantic
Bosom Buddy
This is from Anne of Green Gables and they use it to describe Anne’s best friend
A friend that’s close to your bosom, your heart
If you’re reading this, know you are a bosom buddy
Prescient
This is having foresight and knowing something is going to happen before it happens
Would be so cool to be prescient but I’ve never had the foresight to prepare in advance for anything - even something as simple as having a sweater at my desk because the office is cold
Dearth
In reference to lacking something - not really used for saying you have a dearth of money but more used when a resource is scarce
Gossamer
I like this one a lot - it’s a little pervy - it’s see thru, lacy, spider-web like
All your clothes should be gossamer this summer and actually all year round

Apricity
This is the warmth of the sun in the winter - enjoying apricity when you can find it in the cold months
Taciturn
Very quiet, uncommunicative and having little to say when describing a person
A negative trait - you don’t want to be called this, trust me. Or maybe you talk too much and it would be a good change of pace
Kismet
Destiny, fate - I also kind of use this word for serendipity which is both those things but slightly different
My friends Charlie and Malea both frequently use this word and it is such a delight - to hear and to say aloud.
Precocious
Looks like precious but it’s not.
Mostly in reference to smol children when they are smart - so next time you’re with your friends’ kids or nieces and nephews, refer to them as precocious. It’ll make their parents happy
Bellicose
Aggressive and warlike though I kind of use it for someone that’s loud — but don’t do that because that’s not the right definition I just learned as I googled the word
Ardent
Passionate or enthusiastic
Most commonly used as an “ardent supporter”
Things I’m an ardent supporter of : NYTimes Games
Bedlam
Craziness or chaos
The etymology is that Bedlam was a mental hospital in the UK which is where this word originated from
Fetid
Smelly - like really, really smelly - I think maybe smelling like something or someone is dying
One encounters many fetid smells walking around NYC in the summer
Boondoggle
Something that’s done for show but it’s a farce, waste of time, etc.
This is a very fun word to say so find ways to incorporate it into your life - even if you’re not using it properly - I’m imagining someone that’s kind of a con man - and u wag your finger at them and call them a boondoggle
Chicanery
Tricking people for financial or political gain - bribing, corruption, you know.. the things currently plaguing our government
This is another word that is fun to say - maybe next time you’re talking about politics bring this into it
Respite
A little break or rest
I like to reward myself with a nice respite when I’ve done anything that’s remotely challenging
And a deep closing quote to close us out“the limits of my language are the limits of my world” - Ludwig Wittgenstein
Okay, we’re done here. Bye.
I highly suggest adding ‘off-piste’ which in British slang means to do something in a different way to the norm or standard.
Bellicose! Came across this one reading the other day and immediately loved. Kinda kismet to see it again here... I feel like it's not used too often