Word lists
Whether you're hunting for useful crossword answers, words which break common spelling rules, or simply unusual words to impress your friends, this page has the wordlists you're looking for.
It's not all just for fun, though. These wordlists will also give you the corresponding British word for an Americanism (or vice versa), help make a piece of writing more literary, and reveal some phobias you didn't know existed. You can explore our wordlists below.
Foreign words and phrases
There are many words used in English that started out their lives in other languages. Find out the meanings and original languages of some of the most common.
List of phobias
An extreme or irrational fear is known as a phobia. Certain fears have specific names (like coulrophobia: a fear of clowns). Here are some other examples.
Literary words
If you’re seeking a more elevated tone for a piece of writing, or simply want to expand your vocabulary, our list of literary terms is just what you need.
Three-letter words containing x or z
Love word games? Take a look at our list of three-letter words containing the letters x or z. If you know these, you’re sure to score extra points!
Two-letter words
Two-letter words are very sought-after. This page gives a substantial list of these words that have been recognised by Oxford Dictionaries.
Weird and wonderful words
If you are a word enthusiast, you will love our extensive list of some of our favourite weird and wonderful words. Click through to see them.
Words containing q not followed by u
‘Q is always followed by u’: this is one of the rules you’re taught early on when learning English. But it’s not true of the words on this list…
Words of up to eight letters beginning with x
‘X’ is a fairly uncommon letter in the English language, but how many words begin with this letter? This article explores this small selection of words.
Further reading
5 tasty sandwich etymologies
Read moreWhich Joe gave his name to ‘sloppy joes’? We look at five interesting sandwiches and their lexical origins.
13 animal names and their meanings
Read moreHow did the orangutan get its name? What about the aardvark or the squirrel? We delve into the jungle of animal etymologies.
6 punctuation marks you might be using incorrectly
Read moreWe take a look at several popular, though confusing, punctuation marks.
An A-Z of country name origins
Read moreFrom Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, discover surprising and intriguing language facts from around the globe.
