{"id":176196,"date":"2023-05-29T20:55:19","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T00:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/difficult-hard-english-words\/"},"modified":"2025-02-22T02:17:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-22T07:17:35","slug":"difficult-hard-english-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/english\/difficult-hard-english-words\/","title":{"rendered":"29 Hard English Words and Phrases"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tricky English words can trip you up<\/em> (cause you to make mistakes).\u00a0Many of them are difficult to spell or even pronounce, and some can have different meanings depending on the situation.<\/p>\n

In this post, I will show you 29 common but difficult English words and phrases, plus my favorite tricks for dealing with complicated English vocabulary.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious<\/h2>\n

If reading “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” is scary enough, you are not alone! Even native speakers have a hard time with it, given that it is one of the longest words in the English language<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” is an adjective that comes from the 1964 Disney movie “Mary Poppins,”<\/a> where it was made into a really catchy song<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The word has since come to mean two things: something truly wonderful or something ridiculously complicated.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:\u00a0<\/strong>Wonderful, great, awesome.<\/p>\n

If I won the lottery, it would be a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious<\/strong> experience.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> Overly complicated.<\/p>\n

I did not understand anything from the lesson because the explanations were supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

2. Colonel<\/h2>\n

“Colonel” is a tricky English word because its pronunciation is so different from its spelling. Rather than “co-lo-nel,” you pronounce this one as “ker-nel”\u2014like a corn kernel<\/a>!\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Colonel” is a noun that refers to a high rank in the military, usually below the generals<\/a>. For example:<\/p>\n

Even though KFC’s founder is called\u00a0Colonel<\/strong> Sanders, he was never in the military.<\/em><\/p>\n

3. Necessary<\/h2>\n

The adjective “necessary” is easy to misspell (like “neccesary” or “nesesarry”). It is also confusing to pronounce, since the “c” and the “s” have the same sound as in “said” and the “y” is pronounced like an “i.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Luckily, it has a straightforward meaning! When you say that something is “necessary,” you mean it is required or needed.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

A working computer and internet connection are necessary<\/strong> for my job as a writer.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. Ironic<\/h2>\n

“Ironic” is difficult not only because of how it is pronounced (eye-RO-nick) but also because of its multiple meanings.<\/p>\n

Also, if you first came across this adjective through Alanis Morissette’s song of the same name<\/a>, please know that “ironic” does\u00a0not<\/strong> simply mean bad things that happen to you.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Instead, it refers to:<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> Two contradictory but related ideas or events that happen together.<\/p>\n

It is ironic<\/strong> that a man who says he believes in God treats his family<\/em> badly<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> The use of irony <\/em>(using one thing to mean the opposite) in humor or comedy.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The comedian is famous for using\u00a0ironic<\/strong> humor to criticize the government.<\/em><\/p>\n

5. Aggrandize<\/h2>\n

“Aggrandize” is another word that is difficult to spell correctly. You may also find it hard to pronounce\u2014is it a-gran-DEE-ze or a-gran-DICE?<\/p>\n

It is a verb that has three meanings.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:\u00a0<\/strong>To make something look bigger or more important than it really is.<\/p>\n

The man liked to aggrandize<\/strong> his achievements because he thought it made him popular.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:\u00a0<\/strong>To increase the size of something.<\/p>\n

The government wanted to\u00a0aggrandize<\/strong> the public parks by planting more trees.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:\u00a0<\/strong>To increase one’s wealth and power.<\/p>\n

The politician\u00a0aggrandized<\/strong> himself through policies that put more money in his pocket.<\/em><\/p>\n

6. Brusque<\/h2>\n

Contrary to its spelling, the adjective “brusque” is pronounced as “brusk” rather than “brus-kei.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

It also has three different meanings:<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> Curt or harsh behavior or quality.<\/p>\n

The man’s brusque<\/strong> words made the girl cry.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> Sudden or unexpected.<\/p>\n

The brusque<\/strong> arrival of the storm caught everyone off-guard.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:<\/strong> Rough appearance.<\/p>\n

Although the house looks brusque<\/strong>, I like it!<\/em><\/p>\n

7. Cacophony<\/h2>\n

“Cacophony” is a noun that can be difficult to spell and pronounce. It can also be positive or negative depending on the context.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1: <\/strong>Unpleasant mixture of sounds.<\/p>\n

Unable to bear the daily cacophony<\/strong> of construction sounds and car horns, she decided to leave the city.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> Deliberate mixture of sounds that do not go together for artistic effect.<\/p>\n

The composer’s music stands out because of his skillful use of cacophony.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

8. Paraphernalia<\/h2>\n

This is another word that is difficult to spell and is a mouthful\u00a0<\/em>(hard to pronounce) even for native English speakers.<\/p>\n

“Paraphernalia” is a noun that used to refer to a woman’s property other than her dowry<\/em> (gifts with monetary value given to a husband or wife when they are married).<\/p>\n

Today, it simply means a collection of items that seem randomly thrown together.<\/p>\n

You could say:<\/p>\n

I could not throw away the paraphernalia<\/strong> that reminded me of better times.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

9. Nauseous<\/h2>\n

The adjective “nauseous” came from the Latin\u00a0nauseosus<\/em>, meaning something that makes you feel disgusted or repulsed (like a horror movie). Now, it is an adjective that means feeling dizzy or lightheaded, rather than the\u00a0thing\u00a0<\/em>that causes that feeling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I should also note that “nauseated” is considered more grammatically correct<\/a> than “nauseous,” though the two are understood to have the same meaning.<\/p>\n

With that out of the way, here is an example of how “nauseous” might be used:<\/p>\n

I felt nauseous <\/strong>during the road trip, so I took medicine for motion sickness. <\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

10. Irregardless<\/h2>\n

Another word that is often considered grammatically incorrect is “irregardless.” It is a combination of “regardless” and “irrespective.”<\/p>\n

What makes it confusing is that it means the same as “regardless,” even though the prefix “ir-” would normally imply the negation of a word.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I do not recommend using this word at all, but if you must, here are a couple of examples.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1: <\/strong>Even though; in spite of.<\/p>\n

Irregardless\u00a0<\/strong>of the mysterious man’s warnings, the group still entered the haunted house.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> No meaning; added for emphasis.<\/p>\n

Irregardless,<\/strong> I will go through with my plan.<\/em><\/p>\n

11. Anachronistic<\/h2>\n

“Anachronistic” is another adjective that can twist your tongue<\/a>. You can figure out what it means from its origins, though. “Anachronistic” comes from a combination of the Greek words ana<\/em> (against) and\u00a0chronos<\/em> (time).\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are a couple of ways you can use it.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:\u00a0<\/strong>Something or someone out of their historical or cultural time.<\/p>\n

The time traveler’s T-shirt and jeans were anachronistic<\/strong> in the age of dinosaurs.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meaning\u00a0#2:<\/strong> Something that is outdated or unfashionable.<\/p>\n

The old typewriter looked\u00a0anachronistic<\/strong> in an office full of laptops and HD monitors.<\/em><\/p>\n

12. Untoward<\/h2>\n

You probably learned that the prefix “un-” means the opposite of the word that follows it. For example, you have “undo,” “untie,” “unpack,” etc.<\/p>\n

However, that is not the case with “untoward.” It is an adjective that implies something bad, rather than not going in a certain direction.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You could say:<\/p>\n

The student’s consistently untoward<\/strong> behavior got him expelled from school.<\/em><\/p>\n

13. Anemone<\/h2>\n

Unless you like plants or the sea, you are probably unfamiliar with the noun “anemone.” The pronunciation can throw you off since the stress is on the second syllable (uh-NEM-uh-nee). It is also a word with letters you do not often see together.<\/p>\n

There are three ways you could use it.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:\u00a0<\/strong>A sea-dwelling animal related to jellyfish and coral.<\/p>\n

The sight of fishes swimming among the\u00a0anemone’s<\/strong> tentacles was beautiful.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> A type of brightly-colored flower.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She planted a lot of\u00a0anemones<\/strong> in her garden.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:<\/strong> An ornament that looks like the anemone flower.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0anemone<\/strong> brooch on her dress added a nice touch!<\/em><\/p>\n

14. Dilate<\/h2>\n

You will often hear this verb used in a medical context. “Dilate” is a difficult English word because of its pronunciation (it is read as DYE-leyt rather than dee-lah-teh). There is also the fact that it is easy to mix up with “delight,” a word that has a completely different (and more positive) meaning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Dilate” typically means the expansion or widening of blood vessels or your eyes’ pupils.<\/p>\n

For example:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is said that your pupils dilate<\/strong> when you look at someone you find attractive.<\/em><\/p>\n

15. Literally<\/h2>\n

Originally, this adverb meant something that was exact and the opposite of “figuratively.” Today, through much misuse, the word is most often used to exaggerate something, and make it seem bigger and more important.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> Exact and not exaggerated.<\/p>\n

There were literally<\/strong> thousands of butterflies flying all around us.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Note: This means that if someone\u00a0had counted\u00a0all of the butterflies, there would have\u00a0actually been thousands.<\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> Exaggerated for emphasis, and not necessarily true.<\/p>\n

That is literally<\/strong> the ugliest bag in the world.<\/em><\/p>\n

Note: There are likely other bags that are uglier than this bag, so it is not actually\u00a0<\/em>the ugliest in the whole world.<\/p>\n

16. Nonplussed<\/h2>\n

The adjective nonplussed<\/em> comes from Latin, and means “no more.” It is a state of being where nothing more can be said or done, like when you are so confused by something you are not sure how to react.<\/p>\n

Speaking of confusing, this word can mean “surprised” or “not surprised” depending on the context!<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> Extremely surprised and confused.<\/p>\n

He was nonplussed<\/strong> at seeing his cat chase the neighbor’s dog up a tree.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> Not surprised or affected at all (mostly used in American English).<\/p>\n

The surprise birthday party left him nonplussed<\/strong>; he had known about it for a week already.<\/em><\/p>\n

17. Left<\/h2>\n

“Left” seems like a simple enough word\u2014until you realize how many meanings it has!<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> Departed, moved away from someplace.<\/p>\n

He left<\/strong> his house at 6 in the morning to be on time for his flight.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> Remaining, something not moved away.<\/p>\n

He missed his flight because he accidentally left<\/strong> his passport\u00a0in his bedroom.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:\u00a0<\/strong>Direction equivalent to the west; opposite of “right” or “east.”<\/p>\n

To get to the airport, turn\u00a0left<\/strong> near 31st Street.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #4:<\/strong> A political ideology that is the opposite of right.<\/p>\n

In the United States, educated individuals often have\u00a0leftist<\/strong> beliefs.<\/em><\/p>\n

18. Refrain<\/h2>\n

This word can be both a verb and a noun, and they have two completely different meanings.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong>\u00a0To stop yourself from doing something.<\/p>\n

Please refrain<\/strong> from making noise during the concert.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> A line or phrase that is repeated in a song or poem.<\/p>\n

The chorus, or the repeated part of a song, is called the refrain<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

19. Bound<\/h2>\n

“Bound” is another word that has several meanings. It can be a verb, adjective\u00a0and<\/em> a noun!<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> Restrained and held in place.<\/p>\n

He was bound<\/strong> to the chair with ropes.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> Moving towards a destination.<\/p>\n

She is bound<\/strong> for college this weekend.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:\u00a0<\/strong>Something that may happen in the future.<\/p>\n

Because she had a happy childhood, she was\u00a0bound<\/strong> to be successful when she grew up.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #4:<\/strong> To move with wide strides<\/em> (difference between steps or positions)<\/p>\n

The good news made him\u00a0bound<\/strong> out of his room.<\/em><\/p>\n

The ball\u00a0bound<\/strong> into the garden of their neighbor.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #5:<\/strong> A boundary or limit.<\/p>\n

The city’s edges were along the\u00a0bound<\/strong> of the forest.<\/em><\/p>\n

20. Overlook<\/h2>\n

Overlook can mean one of four things.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1: <\/strong>To supervise and watch over something.<\/p>\n

His job is to overlook<\/strong> the construction site and make sure everyone remains safe.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> To neglect or fail to see something.<\/p>\n

Because he overlooked<\/strong> a big safety hazard, the construction had to be started over.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:\u00a0<\/strong>To forgive (a mistake or failure).<\/p>\n

I will\u00a0overlook<\/strong> your mistake now because you are my friend, but please be more careful next time!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #4:\u00a0<\/strong>To have a view over something.<\/p>\n

The top floor of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, overlooked\u00a0<\/strong>the clouds of Dubai.<\/em><\/p>\n

21. Dust<\/h2>\n

“Dust” is another word with multiple meanings\u2014two of them contradictory to<\/em> (opposite) each other!<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> To add small particles to a surface.<\/p>\n

The policemen dusted<\/strong> the crime scene for prints.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> To remove small particles from a surface.<\/p>\n

My mother likes to dust<\/strong>\u00a0our\u00a0tables and shelves\u00a0at least twice a day.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:\u00a0<\/strong>The small particles on a surface.<\/p>\n

After years of neglect, the house became covered in dust.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

22. Custom<\/h2>\n

If you are not a native English speaker, “custom” is another word that can be easy to mix up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> Typical behavior exhibited by many in society.<\/p>\n

Taking off your shoes when entering the house is not only a custom<\/strong>, it is also polite.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> Specially made, one of a kind.<\/p>\n

This violin was custom-made<\/strong> for the famous violinist who has really small hands.<\/em><\/p>\n

23. Either<\/h2>\n

The word “either” is an interesting one, since the definition we use most often is not entirely correct. The word comes from an Old English\u00a0word<\/a> that meant “both” or “each.” When we use the word to mean both, we are using it the way it was used originally.<\/p>\n

Also, it can be pronounced “EE-ther” or “EYE-ther.” American English uses both, while British English uses “EE-ther.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> One or the other.<\/p>\n

You can choose either<\/strong> this chicken sandwich or the beef one.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> Both.<\/p>\n

There is traffic on either<\/strong> side of the road.<\/em><\/p>\n

24. Original<\/h2>\n

“Original” is an adjective that means one of three things.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> Something old and unchanged that has existed for a while.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0original\u00a0<\/strong>schedule started with a dance number, but it was changed into a singing competition.<\/i><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> Something new and unique that no one has thought of before.<\/p>\n

I had an original<\/strong> idea for a company, but I have no money to start it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:\u00a0<\/strong>The first of something.<\/p>\n

I liked the original<\/strong> version of the movie better than the remake.<\/em><\/p>\n

25. Hold Up<\/h2>\n

This verb phrase has several meanings that can be positive or negative depending on the context.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> To support something so it doesn’t fall down.<\/p>\n

We need more poles and ropes to hold up<\/strong> the tent.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> To stay strong and continue despite troubles.<\/p>\n

The tree held up<\/strong> to the rough hurricane winds, but the house was wrecked.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:<\/strong> To prevent something from continuing.<\/p>\n

What is the hold up<\/strong>? Can we please get going!<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #4:<\/strong> To rob a place like a bank.<\/p>\n

The robbers\u00a0held up<\/strong>\u00a0the bank and left with all of the money.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #5:<\/strong> To show as an example.<\/p>\n

The young man was\u00a0held up<\/strong> as an example of what people from his generation should be like.<\/em><\/p>\n

26. Back Up<\/h2>\n

Another verb phrase with contradictory meanings is “back up.” It is also easy to confuse with “backup,” which is a noun<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> To help or support someone.<\/p>\n

I will\u00a0back<\/strong> you\u00a0up\u00a0<\/strong>whenever you are in trouble. We are friends, after all.<\/i><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> To retreat or move away.<\/p>\n

I backed up<\/strong> slowly to get away from\u00a0the growling dog.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:\u00a0<\/strong>To duplicate or copy something.<\/p>\n

You should always back up<\/strong> your digital files.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #4:<\/strong> To cause a delay (like in traffic).<\/p>\n

The accident caused traffic to\u00a0back up.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

27. Throw Out<\/h2>\n

The key to understanding this verb phrase is the word “throw,” or the sometimes-used synonym “toss.” When you throw something, you are moving it away from yourself.<\/p>\n

You can use this phrase in two ways.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong> To dispose of or put something in the garbage.<\/p>\n

I threw out<\/strong> my old socks because they had holes in them.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> To suggest or bring out a new idea.<\/p>\n

When we had our meeting, I threw out<\/strong> some new ideas that the boss liked.<\/em><\/p>\n

28. Go Off<\/h2>\n

Separately, “go” and “off” are easy enough to understand. Together, they become a verb phrase that can mean different things depending on the context.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meaning #1: <\/strong>To leave suddenly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I will go off<\/strong> to work soon, so please take care!<\/i><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> To turn on.<\/p>\n

I didn’t hear my alarm go<\/strong>\u00a0off<\/strong> this\u00a0morning, so I was late to work.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:\u00a0<\/strong>To explode.<\/p>\n

The bomb was set to\u00a0go off<\/strong> at exactly 12 noon.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #4: <\/strong>To behave angrily and shout at someone.<\/p>\n

Even when Max is upset, he does not\u00a0go off\u00a0<\/strong>on people.<\/i><\/p>\n

Meaning #5:<\/strong> To start something with energy and enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

I will\u00a0go off<\/strong> and start building my business!<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning<\/strong> #6:<\/strong> To become spoiled or rotten.<\/p>\n

Eggs\u00a0go off<\/strong> quickly, so use them as soon as you can.<\/em><\/p>\n

29. Wound Up<\/h2>\n

Before we had electricity, many things worked through gears. You had to wind up the gears to keep them running (the past tense is wound up). That is why when someone is wound up<\/em> (adjective), it is like someone moved their gears to get them excited.<\/p>\n

The verb “to wind” comes from the same root as “wander”<\/a>:\u00a0to move around or travel. That explains the third\u00a0definition: When you wind up<\/em> somewhere, you are ending your traveling and coming to a conclusion or a final place.<\/p>\n

Meaning #1:<\/strong>\u00a0To\u00a0turn a knob or handle so something\u00a0will work.<\/p>\n

The last time I wound up\u00a0<\/strong>my old clock was yesterday at noon.\u00a0I have to wind it up\u00a0every day or two, otherwise it stops working.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #2:<\/strong> To be excited or upset about something. (Informal adjective)<\/p>\n

The children will be completely\u00a0wound up<\/strong>\u00a0if you let them eat all of that candy today.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meaning #3:<\/strong> To end up.<\/p>\n

I originally thought I would come back home, but I wound up<\/strong> staying at Sarah’s house last night.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to Learn Difficult Words in English<\/h2>\n

When you come across a difficult English word that you want to learn, here is what you can do.<\/p>\n

Listen to catchy song lyrics<\/h3>\n

Some songs are naturally easy to remember because they are fast-paced and easy to sing. You can take advantage of this for learning English vocabulary!<\/p>\n

You can use websites like Lyrics.com<\/a> to find songs that have a vocabulary word you want to learn. Try reading along with the lyrics<\/a> next time you listen to a song, or turn the subtitles on if you are watching a music video.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, you can use an online immersion program like FluentU<\/a>.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

<\/p> \r\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

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