Just for Fun

International Talk Like A Pirate Day is celebrated on September 19. In the swashbuckling spirit, this list covers words every self-respecting pirate should know: parts of a ship, sailing jargon, terms for pirates, etc. With these words at your command, you can take the whole pirate thing way beyond "arrgh," eyepatches, and annoying birds that perch on your shoulder. For more, check out the full article: Buccaneer, Bilge and Booty: Words Every Self-respecting Pirate Should Know

For Fido's next new trick, teach him some of these words that describe canine companions. What's even more amazing than a talking dog? A spelling bee.

Looking for a variety of words to choose from when complaining about how hot it is? You're in luck! There are plenty of ways to gripe about just how stifling the summer months can be. For more, check out the article: Sweltering Words for the Nuclear Summer.

Jay Aubrey Jones pronounced more than 36,000 words for Vocabulary.com (including laurel). Here are some of the most esoteric. See if you can spell them while listening to the dulcet tones of Jay's voice!

National Pack Rat Day is May 17th. Here's a hoard of highly collectable words that'll help you amass an impressive vocabulary. Read the related article: Highly Collectable Words for National Pack Rat Day

Even if it’s not Derby Day, you can’t say neigh to this list of horse vocabulary. Quit stalling and practice these 20 words!

Rejoice, Star Wars fans! May the 4th is National Star Wars Day! The epic film series launched plenty of words—like Jedi and Wookiee—but it also made use of existing words, giving them a new spin, and a new force, if you will. Our Star Wars lexicon will serve you well in any galaxy. Read the full article here.

Add to your formidable vocabulary arsenal by learning these words inspired by "The Avengers" movies.

If you suffer from triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13), you may want to stop reading now. Different cultures have considered Friday and the number 13 unlucky for thousands of years. Even today, some believe that the combination of the two is an especially jinxed event. The words on this list all relate to superstition, belief, luck, and unexplained phenomena.

Whether or not you're practiced in the art of deception, learn these words related to tricks, traps and illusions. Read the full article: Seeing Through the Lexicon of Smoke and Mirrors Day

Spring is season of rebirth and renewal in the natural world. These words conjure images of greenery and growth.

Beware the ides of March, and other obscure time-related words that you only see once in a blue moon. Learn these terms in a fortnight (perhaps less?), and usher in a new era of vocabulary knowledge. Read the full article: Beware the Time-related Vocabulary of March!

From spring training and opening day right up through the World Series, baseball (a.k.a. our national pastime) is a sport with rabid fans. It's also known for having plenty of downtime, so why not practice the language of the game during the many hours it'll take to wrap up all nine innings?

Marvel's Black Panther movie is the first blockbuster film to center on a black superhero. In honor of this new movie and great character, here are some terms relating to T’Challa, a superhero who’s literally comic book royalty. Here's the full article: The Royal Lexicon of The Black Panther

Train for some Olympics-viewing with this list, then whip new words out at the water cooler as you go for the (conversational) gold!

Unless you're opposed to the idea, we suggest that you don't not learn these words. They come in particularly handy on January 25th, National Opposite Day. Read the full article here: Don't Not Celebrate National Opposite Day

Here's a list about relaxation and taking it easy. Whether it is for protection from a winter chill or relishing comfort no matter what the season, there are a bunch of words that evoke this feeling of security and happiness. Here are 11 words about unwinding by wrapping the covers tight, calming down, and cuddling up.

There’s no reason to let your vocabulary hibernate when the weather gets frigid. Check out these winter-related words. For more, read the full article: The Chilly Vocabulary of Snowpocalypse Season

Attention, Holiday Shoppers! Stock up on these words related to consumer culture. They're a real bargain, and a great vocabulary never goes out of style. Read the full article: Attention, Shoppers! The Pricey Language of Consumerism.

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is widely recognized as "Giving Tuesday." The point of this social movement is to encourage people to give instead of get, and it's cleverly timed to follow the gluttony (both culinary and commercial) of Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday has become an important fundraising event for charitable and nonprofit organizations around the world.

We’ve all been advised to not talk with our mouths full. It makes you wonder why there are so many words related to hunger and the act of eating. Whether you are feasting or on a diet, here is some essential eating vocabulary. Feast on this related article: A Cornucopia of Words: Thanksgiving Lingo is Food for Thought

Words shouldn’t be your kryptonite. Arm yourself with an indestructible vocabulary, starting with these terms from the superhero genre. For more, check out the full article: The Powerful Lingo of Superheroes

When you’ve painted yourself in a corner, stirred up a hornet’s nest, or put yourself between a rock and a hard place, perhaps the best thing to do is talk about it, and that’s why there are so many expressions for being in a pickle. Whether you're up a creek without a paddle or just want to be prepared for future predicaments, these words will have you covered. For a deeper dive into the barrel, check out: Celebrate National Pickle Day the Wordy Way

Henry Ford's Model-T was first produced in October 1908. It was the cheapest car ever built, and it helped usher in a new age of transportation. Whether you're an automotive enthusiast or a total novice, check out these words connected to cars.

Calling all budding geniuses! Don't let inertia stop you from learning these words related to physicist Albert Einstein and his work. Best known for developing the theory of relativity, Einstein is widely considered to be one of the greatest scientists of all time. If these words give you the momentum to learn more about physics, you can practice our introductory physics list here.