Library people tend to enjoy words, and this article is definitely a fun read. Kory Stamper, lexicographer at Merriam-Webster and author of Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries shares seven of her favorite words. Some of the words she discusses are maybe a little over the top to include in daily conversation, but it’s always nice to have the option if you ever need to sound extra impressive!

Here are some of the words from her list (and don’t miss the funny history of “pumpernickel”):

• Sesquipedalian: “It means “given to using long words,” and it has the added benefit of making its object sound very erudite while also gently poking fun at them.”
• Salmagundi: “English has many words that mean “mixture,” but none is as fun to say as “salmagundi.”
• Jawn: “It’s peculiar to Philadelphia where it serves as a colorful substitute for the word “thing.”