Just for Fun

Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga in 1966 by as a celebration of African-American culture. It takes place over seven days, from December 26–January 1, and includes gift-giving, feasting, and devotion to seven principles organized around building and strengthening the Black community. Many of the words associated with Kwanzaa come from Swahili; matunda ya kwanza means "first fruits of the harvest."

The shortest day of the year, December 21, gives us an occasion to learn some vocabulary associated with the night sky: the Earth, the stars, and darkness.

These punctuation terms are good to know, period. Learn what an apostrophe’s purpose is; find out what a semicolon is for. Are you confused about question marks? Probably not (although you may be mystified by parentheses). This list is sure to make you as excited as an exclamation point!

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

Whether you're talking about a one-time gig or a lifetime spent advancing in your career, the words on this list will do the job!

Coming up with just the right word to describe the person in charge won't be a boss battle if you learn these highly employable terms.

Planets and their moons have complex relationships as they spin through space around the sun. These words describe their motions and relationships, and will help you understand the gravity of the situation.

The stars and planets have given us lots of words, but some of them are unexpected. How many of these do you know?

The month of August was named after Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of Rome, who lived from 63 BCE–14 CE. He took the name Augustus — he was born Gaius Octavius — because it means "worthy of honor" in Latin. Learn this list of synonyms for august and your vocabulary will be fit for an emperor!

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.

From amanuensis to author, foreword to frontispiece, there's more to books than just reading them. Here are some of the words we use to talk about books, book parts, and book people.

There are buckets full of words to describe the stuff under your feet, so grab a shovel and dig into this list!

Widely recognized as one of the greatest and most difficult board games in the world, chess originated in India in the 6th century C.E., spreading into Persia and the Muslim world — undergoing rule changes over the course of many centuries — before arriving in Europe and beyond. Learn this list and become a vocabulary grandmaster!

Take our word for it, the English language has many ways to describe things that might, or might not, be. For more synonym lists, explore our Say What You Mean resources.

From unfair insults to false accusations made intentionally to harm a person's reputation, there's no shortage of vocabulary for dishonest verbal attacks.

The mathematician-philosopher Alfred North Whitehead famously said "Seek simplicity, and distrust it." Simply put, this list provides the vocabulary to describe anything from an easy job to an elegantly minimal interior design.

Though most geological movement is far too slow for us to see, sometimes the incredible heat and pressure created by our ever-changing planet bursts to the surface with awesome force. This list will get your volcanic vocabulary on solid ground.

Love of country is a powerful motivating force, leading us to vote, advocate, protest peacefully, and otherwise engage as citizens in an ongoing effort to improve our society. Learn this list and let your vocabulary flag fly!

The human body is a treasure trove of vocabulary, from the tiniest blood vessel to the biggest bone. How many of these words for body parts do you know?

These words describe all sorts of ways that we move, rest, or arrange our limbs. Don't just stand there, let's get to it!

Do you have a green thumb? Whether you live on a farm or have a pot of herbs on your kitchen windowsill, dig in to this list of grow-cabulary and see what sprouts!

Avoid pier pressure on your next trip to the beach with this salty list of maritime vocabulary.

Summer is a season for fun activities, but set aside some time for just chilling, maybe with a book, indoors or out. This list will give you all the words you need to master the art of doing nothing.

Shelter is a basic human need, as essential as food and water. As a result, there are many words to describe the place you live, each with its own history and connotation. Get ready for some home schooling!

Words like "desk" and "chair" are so drab and commonplace that we pay them no mind. Give your vocabulary a makeover with these words for furniture that will have you sounding like a famous interior designer.