10 words in English that don't make sense! Hmmm...

TL;DR

English words like "inflammable" and "flammable" have the same meaning, and other words like "noses run" and "feet smell" have contradictory meanings.

Transcript

Hello out there? Hello? It's me. Oh, hello, hello, hello. Ronnie. Ronnie here. This is a really fun lesson, kind of something that I live for every day. One of my... It's not a hobby. One thing that I think is cool, generally and for real, are words in English. Being an English teacher, teaching you English, I come across words that just don't make... Read More

Key Insights

• 🈹 English words with prefixes like "in," "un," "anti," "dis," and "un" do not always mean "not," as exemplified by "inflammable" and "flammable."
• 👃 The English language contains words and phrases that have contradictory meanings, such as "noses run" and "feet smell."
• 😤 English words for mucus, snot, and booger have distinct terms, unlike translations in other languages where they are often referred to as "nose water" or "nose liquid."
• 😤 The choice of "nostrils" instead of "nose holes" to describe the holes in our nose is arbitrary.
• 😒 English terms for things like "driveway" and "parkway" and the use of "soccer" instead of "football" in certain regions are examples of illogical language usage.
• 🦷 The inconsistency in plural forms of words like "tooth" and "pants" is another aspect of the English language that can be confusing.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do the words "inflammable" and "flammable" have the same meaning in English?

In English, the prefix "in-" in "inflammable" means "in flames" rather than "not," making the two words synonyms. This is contrary to what logic would suggest based on the use of prefixes like "un" and "dis" in English.

Q: Why do we say "noses run" but "feet smell" when the meanings of these phrases contradict each other?

The phrase "noses run" refers to the action of liquid coming out of the nose, while "feet smell" can mean both that feet have an odor and that they perform the action of smelling. This inconsistency is a humorous aspect of the English language.

Q: How do English words for mucus, snot, and booger differ from translations in other languages?

English words for mucus, snot, and booger (phlegm, mucus, snot, and booger) do not directly translate from other languages like Japanese and Korean, which use terms such as "nose water" or "nose liquid." English has distinct words for these substances, distinguishing between liquid (mucus, snot) and solid (booger).

Q: Why are the holes in our nose called "nostrils" instead of "nose holes"?

The term "nostrils" is used in English to refer to the holes in our nose. It is unclear why this specific term is used instead of a more literal phrase like "nose holes."

Summary & Key Takeaways

• English words like "inflammable" and "flammable" have the same meaning, which is contrary to what logic would suggest.

• The phrase "noses run" means that liquid comes out of the nose, while "feet smell" can mean both that feet have an odor and that they perform the action of smelling.

• English words for mucus, snot, and booger (phlegm, mucus, snot, and booger) do not directly translate from other languages.