Fun language quirks

English is not normal: 10 incredible eccentricities of our language

Did you know English is one of the few languages where the first-person singular pronoun "I" is always capitalized? Or that it contains words that can mean two completely opposite things? Even something as simple as the days of the week reveals a difference: in many other languages, they are always written in lowercase. English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, but that doesn’t mean it is easy to explain. In fact, some of its strangest features might surprise even native speakers. From unusual grammar rules to words with surprising pasts, English is filled with quirks that make it unlike any other language. Here are 10 fascinating things that make English unique.

If you’ve ever talked with someone learning English, you’ve probably heard the same question: How can words like "cough," "dough," and "through" all be spelled almost the same but sound completely different? It’s a fair question, and one that even native speakers sometimes struggle to answer.

English is unusual because the same group of letters can be pronounced in several completely different ways. Few spellings illustrate that better than the ending "-ough." Depending on the word, it can be pronounced nine different ways. Linguists even have a famous mnemonic to demonstrate the chaos: "A rough-coated (uff), dough-faced (oh), thoughtful (aw) ploughman (ow) strode through (oo) the streets of Scarborough (uh); after falling into a lough (ock), he coughed (off) and hiccoughed (up)." No wonder English spelling has a reputation for keeping learners on their toes.

Fortunately, there is an explanation for those discrepancies between pronunciation and spelling in English.

Unlike Spanish or Italian, where words are usually spelled the way they sound, English is full of surprises. Through, threw, and thorough all sound different despite looking similar, while words like knife, debt, and receipt contain silent letters. That’s because English borrowed vocabulary from many different languages, and when the printing press helped standardize spelling in the late 1400s, pronunciation was still changing. The Great Vowel Shift (which occurred primarily between the 15th and 17th centuries) transformed the way many words were spoken, but their spellings largely stayed the same. The result is a language where spelling often has to be memorized rather than guessed, making spelling bees a uniquely English challenge.

You may have noticed people using "they" to refer to a single person and assumed it was a modern invention. Surprisingly, it’s anything but new.

The singular "they" has been part of English for more than 600 years. It appears as early as the 14th century in William and the Werewolf, an anonymous Middle English poem from around 1350, and was later used naturally by some of the greatest writers in the language, including Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, and Jane Austen. In fact, Austen used the singular "they" dozens of times in Pride and Prejudice (1813), writing lines such as, "I would have everybody marry if they can do it properly." The controversy came much later. During the 18th and 19th centuries, grammarians who wanted English to follow the rules of Latin argued that writers should use the generic "he" instead. But everyday speakers never completely abandoned the singular "they," which is why it has survived for centuries and remains part of modern English today.

Many English words have more than one meaning. But two words stand in a league of their own, with so many definitions that they hold a record in the dictionary.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "set" has one of the longest entries, spanning more than 20 pages and containing over 430 distinct senses. Depending on the context, it can be a verb (to set a book on a table), a noun (a chess set or a television set), or an adjective (the plans are set). And as if that weren’t enough, another everyday word is giving it competition. Recent linguistic research suggests that "run" may now have more than 640 distinct meanings and uses, making it one of the most versatile words in the English language. No wonder even native speakers sometimes have to rely on context to figure out exactly what someone means.

Have you ever noticed that some English words seem to contradict themselves? A single word can sometimes mean two opposite things, depending on the context.

Take "dust," which can mean either to remove dust or to sprinkle something with dust. "Cleave" can mean to hold together or to split apart. "Overlook" can mean to watch over something or to fail to notice it. And "sanction" can mean both to approve an action and to impose a penalty for it. These unusual words are called contronyms, terms that have two opposing meanings that somehow coexist in the same word. While other languages have them too, such as the French hôte ("host" or "guest") and the German aufheben ("to preserve" or "to abolish"), English is especially rich in these linguistic contradictions.

What if we told you that English has no future? It sounds a bit dramatic, but from a grammar viewpoint, it’s actually true.

Unlike languages such as Spanish or French, English has no separate future verb tense. Instead of changing the verb itself, English builds the future with helper words like "will," "shall," or "going to." In other words, English verbs only change with the present and past tenses. We say "walk," "walking," and "walked," but for the future we simply add a helper: "will walk." Many other languages work differently. In Spanish, for example, the verb itself changes in all three time frames: camino (I walk), caminé (I walked), and caminaré (I will walk).

Every time you write about yourself, you follow one of English’s most unusual rules: the first-person singular pronoun "I" is always capitalized.

It feels completely natural to us, but it is surprisingly rare among the world’s major languages. Spanish uses yo, French uses je, Italian says io, Portuguese uses eu, and Dutch says ik, all written in lowercase (unless, of course, they start a sentence). English stands out as the only major language that always gives its first-person pronoun a capital letter, and the reason is more practical than symbolic. In medieval handwritten texts, the single letter "i" was easy to miss among surrounding words. To make it easier to read, scribes gradually began writing it larger, and by the late 15th century, the capital "I" had become the standard form we still use today.

"Sit down," "give up," "look into," "take off," "make up," and "run out of" are expressions English speakers use every day naturally. But for people learning the language, it can feel like a never-ending challenge.

That’s because phrasal verbs rarely follow a predictable pattern. The same verb can take on dozens of completely different meanings just by adding a small word like up, out, on, or off. Other languages have similar constructions. German, for example, has separable verbs such as ankommen ("to arrive"), which literally combines an ("at") and kommen ("to come"). In a sentence, the particle separates and moves to the end: Ich komme morgen an ("I arrive tomorrow"). But while many languages use verb-particle combinations, English stands out for having hundreds of phrasal verbs, making them one of the defining features of everyday conversation and one of the biggest troubles for learners.

If you’ve ever written in another language, you’ve probably noticed something that feels almost wrong at first: the words for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday lose their capital letters.

In most of the world’s major languages, the days of the week are written like ordinary nouns, with lowercase letters unless they begin a sentence. But English is one of the very few exceptions. We capitalize all seven days every time we write them, and this is surprisingly rare worldwide. In standard German, the days are capitalized too, but only because all nouns are. In English, however, the days are classified as proper nouns (like Tom or New York) rather than common nouns (like house or pencil). That grammatical distinction is why they always begin with a capital letter.

Believe it or not, some of the most common words in English are complete mysteries. We use them every day, but no one knows where they came from.

Most English words can be traced back through older languages, but a handful have no clear ancestry at all. Historical linguists consider them native English words with unknown origins because they have no identifiable roots and no obvious relatives. One example is the word "dog": for centuries, the common Germanic word for a canine was "hound." Then, sometime in the late Old English period, "dog" suddenly appeared and eventually replaced it. "Boy" first showed up in the 13th century as boie, originally meaning a servant, rogue, or rascal, but its origin remains a mystery. The same is true for "bad," which appeared in Middle English in the late 1200s and gradually displaced older words such as "evil," despite having no known linguistic roots.

LOVE IS IN BLOOM

The 10 Most Popular Flowers In America And The Origin Of Their Names

Image: Anthony Fomin

None of the flowers on this list are exactly indigenous to our continent, however, over the years, they have managed to conquer the hearts —and vases— of all Americans.

From the most googled flower to the best-selling one, these gorgeous blooms can be found in almost every park, botanical garden, and backyard across the country. And to add to the charm, the origin of their names is fascinating! Read on to learn the best-kept secrets of our most beloved flowers.

Image: Elena Mozhvilo

Did you know the iris is the state flower of Tennessee? According to historians, the origin of the iris flower is probably Syria. In the 18th century BC, after Egypt conquered the region, the cultivation of this highly valued flower expanded to North Africa and other areas, becoming more popular over the years. Thus, in India and Egypt irises were used for medicinal purposes and, because of their strong perfume, as an offering to the gods.

Like many other flowers, the name we give iris today comes from Ancient Greece, it literally means rainbow. In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and a messenger between heaven and earth for Hera and Zeus. In addition, Iris was considered a tender companion for women on their deathbeds. Even today, Greek people plant purple irises on the graves of women, as a way of giving them a resting farewell.

Image: Rita Candeias

Nothing says spring more than a bunch of golden-yellow daffodils! The earliest record of daffodils dates back to 300 BC in Greece. Then, during the imperial period, Roman soldiers popularized them throughout Europe, since they believed they had healing powers. In the 17th century, young girls used to sell small bouquets of daffodils on the streets of London and it became one of Shakespeare’s favorite flowers.

The origin of the name of this member of the narcissus plant family is a bit uncertain. Many believe that it derives from Medieval Latin affodillus, a variant of Latin asphodelus, but why the letter d was later added is still to be determined. Whatever the case, daffodils symbolize luck, rebirth, and hope, especially in China, where they are usually in bloom around the Chinese New Year. In America, daffodils are in great esteem as well. For example, each spring, hundreds of bulbs pop up at Kansas City's botanical garden!

Image: Gabriel Groza

Few people know that there are over 100 different species of lilies. This flower, which symbolizes purity and fertility, comes in a wide range of shapes, colors, and sizes, the most common being the white lily. Lilies grow natively all over the world but are most frequently found in the northern hemisphere, in forests and mountains in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Lilies have come a long way in human history. The word lily derives from the Latin līlia and ancient Greek leírion, which etymologists associate with ḥrrt, the ancient Egyptian word for "flower". In fact, Egyptians believed lilies were sacred, the Romans used them to fill pillows, and in Greek mythology, lilies are said to have originated from Hera’s breast milk. Nowadays, in the US, lilies are one of the most popular flowers for funerals and are also the traditional flower for 30th wedding anniversaries.

Image: Wolfgang Hasselmann

If you are feeling stressed just think of a meadow full of poppies and you’ll instantly feel better. From Asia to Europe and North America, you can find these vibrant colorful flowers in the countryside or even on the side of the roads. Since World War I, in the US the red poppy —also called Remembrance Poppy— is a symbol of sacrifice and honor used to celebrate veterans, especially on Memorial Day.

The term poppy comes from the Old English word popæg, which in turn derives from the Latin papaver, possibly a phonetic imitation of the sound of flowers rattling in the wind. Due to their beauty and medicinal properties, humans have been growing poppies since ancient times. In Greece and Rome, poppies were used in religious rituals to honor the goddess of agriculture, Demeter. In more recent history, this flower with over 70 different species has been depicted by several artists, from Van Gogh and Monet to Georgia O’Keefe.

Image: Fallon Michael

Did you know that some peonies can change their color? While blooming, Coral Charm peonies transform from coral to cerise, then to orange and finally, they become white. Don’t trust us? Ask your local florist!

The term peony can be traced back to Ancient Greece. There are two myths that can explain its origin: one is related to Paeon, the physician to the gods, and the other to a flirty nymph called Paeonia. In any case, Peonies have been around for more than 4,000 years. They were first grown in Chinese gardens as a symbol of the emperor's wealth. Later on, they made their way to Japan, now one of the largest producers of peonies in the world. In the 1950s breeders started cultivating peonies in the United States mainly as a decorative flower, though in the past they were used as medicine to treat asthma and headaches.

Image: Chandana Sharma

Roses are red… We’ve all recited this classic children’s rhyme at least once in our lives. But in reality, roses come in all different colors and each has a different meaning. Red roses are universally known to symbolize love and romance. Still, for example, the yellow rose is considered a friendship flower, and black roses are used to convey sorrow and mourning.

The word rose derives from the Latin Rosa, which in turn comes from Greek and Old Persian. Ancient Empires like the Egyptians and the Chinese used roses as offerings to the gods and in funeral rituals. Later on, Christians would adopt red and white roses to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Today, we cultivate roses mostly for their beauty and scent, and they are the go-to flower for lovers, friends, and weddings. And yeap, you guessed it, roses are the most googled flower!

Image: Tim Schmidbauer

Orchids are fascinating flowers that come in all sizes, colors, and shapes. In fact, there are more than 25,000 known species of orchids. These delicate blooms are a bit tricky to grow and take care of at home, but they are very popular nonetheless. The thing is, in the wild, orchids thrive in several diverse landscapes and can be found all around the world, from Asia and Africa to Europe and America.

Today, orchids are associated with luxury and love, but in ancient Greece, they were a symbol of virility and were even considered an aphrodisiac. In Greek, the word orchis means testicle. The flower was named like this because of the shape of the roots of some species.

Fun fact: In the U.S. orchid lovers can find the rarest orchid of them all: the Ghost Orchid, an elegant white flower with long petals that has become a symbol of the South Florida landscape.

Image: Denes Kozma

The lovely fragrance of lavender has a calming effect on the mind and the body, so it is not a surprise this beautiful violet flower is still popular in 21st-century America. The first lavender plants arrived in the US after the first settlers and it was used to reduce smells and as an herb for cooking meat and flavoring teas. Today, lavender is still cultivated throughout the country.

Lavender is thought to have originated around 2,500 years ago in the Mediterranean, India, and the Middle East. Ancient Egyptians used to make perfume out of lavender, and traces of the scent were even found in Tutankhamun’s tomb. In Roman times, lavender was used to heal battle wounds, since the plant is a natural antiseptic. Interestingly, the word lavender is believed to derive from lavare, a Latin term that means to wash.

Image: Kristine Cinate

There’s no summer without a garden full of wild daisies popping up everywhere, don’t you think? There are more than 20,000 different types of daisies and they grow everywhere in the world except Antarctica. Daisies are a symbol of innocence and purity and are one of the most popular flowers in America. The most famous kinds are the Gerbera daisy, the flower of choice for birthdays and weddings, and the iconic Shasta daisy, one of the easiest to grow and take care of.

Daisies have been around since at least 2,200 B.C. The term daisy comes from the Old English daes eage, meaning day’s eye, since this type of flower blossoms at dawn. Ancient Egyptians grew them mostly as an herbal remedy to treat stomach aches and fever. Even today, every grandma would agree that a fragrant daisy tea with honey is the preferred treatment for the common cold!

Image: Mubashir Ahmet

Some say tulips are the most sold flower in the US. We have no proof but we have no doubts either: the tulip is one of the most revered and coveted flowers by Americans. This vividly colored flower is native to Central Asia and was first cultivated in Iran. Over the years, Tulips became a staple of the Ottoman Empire and were eventually introduced in Europe around the 16th century. The first recorded shipment of bulbs was delivered from Istanbul to the Netherlands. Since the tulip is a symbol of the Dutch Republic, they probably made their way into America with the first settlers who arrived in Plymouth.

The word tulip comes either from the Dutch tulpe or the French tulipe, which ultimately derives from the Turkish tülbent, meaning turban. Now that we said it, it seems obvious that there is a great resemblance between this flower and a turban, but have you ever thought about it before? The etymology of words, especially flower names, is full of surprises!