Fear Factor

What pet was Julius Caesar afraid of? Discover 10 rare phobias!

Image: Nik

We all feel scared sometimes, right? But phobias aren't simple fears; They represent a type of irrational and strong fear of objects, situations, or activities that can cause intense feelings of anxiety. Some are very frequent, such as arachnophobia (fear of spiders) or claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces). However, there are many other phobias that are not only rare but also have some of the strangest names. Have you ever heard of chaetophobia? Do you know the term for mirror phobia? If you want to discover 10 uncommon phobias and the origin of their names, read on!

Image: Gabriela Popa

Since old times, poets and artists have dedicated part of their work to nature, particularly flowers. In all types, sizes, and colors, Mother Nature has a flower for everyone, and we, as humans, have incorporated them into our culture in countless ways.

But not everything is rosy. Some people struggle when spring arrives. We're not talking about those allergic to pollen –although they suffer too– but those with anthophobia.

Άνθος (anthos) is the Greek word for flower. So, as the name implies, it's a deep fear of flowers, their appearance, contact with them, or, in some cases, even their scent.

Image: Waldemar

Do you have a lucky number? We do! Numbers represent a lot in our lives, both socially and personally. In fact, many cultures have adopted certain numbers as positive or negative symbols. For example, according to Chinese culture, 8 is a lucky number, while 4 heralds bad news. In Japanese culture, 7 is responsible for announcing good fortune.

Arithmophobia is the irrational fear of numbers. Some people with arithmophobia may reject all numbers in general, while others may associate the fear with a specific number, especially those considered negative or unlucky. Just like the word "arithmetics," arithmophobia has its origin in the Greek ἀριθμός (arithmós), meaning "numbers" or "counting."

Image: Yura Fresh

While connectivity allows us to work, find out what's going on in the world, keep in touch with our loved ones, and receive funny memes, technology can also have its downside.

Our reliance and dependence on laptops and cell phones have increased in recent years, and one of the consequences was the emergence of a condition called nomophobia.

According to the National Library of Medicine, nomophobia is the severe anxiety caused by the fear of being without your phone, losing it, or lacking cell service. Unlike most phobias, its name doesn't have Greek origins; it's actually a portmanteau: NO MObile PHOne phoBIA.

Image: Kim Davies

Cats and dogs have been part of our lives for ages, but while many of us may find them adorable, some people would prefer another type of pet. Why? Well, for many and varied reasons, and one of them could be ailurophobia.

Ailurophobia is the intense and irrational fear of cats. Its name comes from the Greek αἴλουρος (ailouros), meaning "cat," and φόβος (phóbos), "fear," and its symptoms and triggers can vary from person to person.

Surprising as it may be, this phobia is not new. It seems that this fear has been around since ancient times. In fact, some stories claim that figures such as Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great experienced this phobia.

Image: Caroline Veronez

What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? For many of us, looking in the mirror is part of our daily routine, whether it's brushing our teeth or trying on the outfit we'll wear to work. For some, however, a mirror isn't necessary. In fact, they would prefer to avoid it at all costs.

We're talking about eisoptrophobia, the irrational fear of mirrors. As you've probably guessed by now, this word is also derived from Greek but is a bit more specific. εἰς (eis) means "into," and ὀπτῐκός (optikos) refers to vision, image, or sight. As you can see, the word's etymology points to a fear of the reflected image rather than the mirror itself.

Image: Ionela Mat

Wherever you go, wherever you look, there will be words. On your phone screen, on the TV, on book spines, food packages, clothing labels, street signs, and even graffiti. They're everywhere!

All that will seem overwhelming when you learn about logophobia, the fear or terror of words. As you know, Φόβος is the Greek word for "fear," while λόγος (logos) translates as "word" or "speech." This fear can be triggered by a specific word, a type of word, or all of them.

Image: Sergi Kabrera

Believe it or not, sesquipedalophobia is the fear of long words. Ironic, isn't it?

In Latin, sesqui means "one and a half," while pedis is "foot." In Rome, there was a term for really long words: sesquipedalis, those that seemed "a foot and a half long." Over time, this Latin joke became part of the medical term.

But there's more! As if "sesquipedalophobia" wasn't long enough, the term "hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia" has emerged in recent years to describe the same fear. While the latter is not officially recognized, it seems that someone thought it would be good to exaggerate the term by adding the Latin monstrum ("monster") and hippopotamus.

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Peanut butter is one of Americans' major favorites. Whether it's breakfast or any other meal, this ingredient is a staple in most of our diets. However, there are those who can't tolerate it.

If you experience sweaty palms, dizziness, discomfort, or anxiety at the mere thought of peanut butter entering your mouth, perhaps it's arachibutyrophobia.

Arachi is a Greek term related to leguminous plants such as peanuts, and βούτυρον (bouturon) means "butter." Some people associate this specific phobia with the idea of peanut butter sticking to the roof of their mouth, which triggers a fear of choking.

Image: Tim Mossholder

When it comes to looking good, hair is the key. We all know things aren't easy when it's a bad hair day, right?

While for most of us, it's as simple as going to the salon or taking some time out of our day to fix our hair, it's not so simple for others.

No one enjoys walking into the bathroom just to find a pile of loose hair scattered around. Definitely not pleasant scenery! But when dislike reaches an extreme, it can be chaetophobia, an irrational and persistent fear of hair. This name comes from the Greek χαίτη (khaitē), meaning "loose, flowing hair."

Image: Adi Goldstein

"Pennywise" is a familiar name to most of us, isn't it? Thanks to this iconic clown from Stephen King's novel and the movies based on it, we have all come to hear about coulrophobia, the fear of clowns.

While coulrophobia is quite common, there is another related phobia that is much less frequent. This is globophobia, the extreme fear of balloons, their texture, smell, the material they are made of, or the possibility of them popping. For that reason, globophobia is one of the phonophobias, associated with loud sounds.

Deep roots

11 everyday words with indigenous roots

English is a very welcoming language in the sense that it incorporates terms from many other languages from all over the world. And, as it couldn’t be otherwise, Native American languages have lent many of their words and terms to English speakers. Some traveled through Spanish or French before settling into English, and others arrived directly through early contact and trade, helping shape the way we speak today. Did you know about these 11 terms?

The word "canoe" comes from the Taino term canoa, which was first used by Caribbean islanders long before Europeans arrived. Early explorers adopted it to describe the slim, sturdy boats they saw.

Over time, "canoe" became the standard English word for a small paddled craft. Today it still carries that sense of simplicity and closeness to nature.

The word "barbecue" comes from barbacoa, another Taino term for a wooden frame used for cooking meat over fire. Europeans adopted it and applied it to both the method and the gathering itself.

Today, "barbecue" means everything from a backyard cookout to a regional cooking style. Its origins highlight the deep culinary influence of Native Americans in the nation's current culture.

"Skunk" comes from the Algonquian word squnk, which means "urinating fox" (quite a fitting term, indeed). This was an obvious reference to the animal’s strong defensive spray. Early settlers adopted the term directly.

Since English had no better name for the creature, the Native word stuck. Today, the word skunks is also used as playful slang.

The word "moose" originates from Eastern Abenaki, a part of the Algonquian family, where it meant "he strips off bark." Yes, it described the animal’s habit of tearing bark from trees.

The name entered English quickly because settlers relied on Native knowledge of local fauna. The word remains unchanged because of its accuracy and usefulness.

"Raccoon" comes from the Powhatan word arakun, meaning "he scratches with his hands." It described the animal’s clever, humanlike front paws.

Settlers adopted the term because it captured the creature’s behavior beautifully. Today, the raccoon is used as a household symbol of curiosity, not unlike the animal itself.

The term "chipmunk" most probably comes from the Ojibwe word ajidamoo, which means "one who descends trees headfirst." Early English settlers adapted the sound into today’s form.

Though the spelling changed over time, the lively image of a chipmunk racing down a tree face-first stayed.

The word "caribou" comes from the Mi’kmaq term qalipu, which means "snow shoveler," referring to the animal’s habit of digging through snow for food.

French settlers brought the word into English, keeping its descriptive nature. The name still connects the modern animal to the winter landscapes it belongs to.

"Totem" comes from the Ojibwe word ototeman, which means "kinship group." It described symbols representing clans and shared roots.

English adopted it to describe carved poles and symbolic elements. Though broader in modern usage, it still hints at the original sense of community, identity, and heritage.

"Coyote" comes from the Nahuatl word coyōtl, which was used by Indigenous tribes of central Mexico. Spanish speakers adopted it, and English borrowed later.

The word kept its meaning, and it remains one of the most direct links between the English language and Nahuatl.

The tasty avocado’s name traces to the Nahuatl word ahacatl, which refers to the fruit and to a body part as well. Spanish speakers transformed it into aguacate.

Later on, English speakers adapted it to avocado. While the name sounds contemporary and culinary, it has ancient Native roots.

The last Nahuatl word and also the last word on the list comes from the term xocolātl, which describes a bitter cacao drink that was consumed long before Europeans arrived in America. The name traveled from Spanish to English.

Though the product changed dramatically, the word survived. Today, chocolate is a universal symbol of sweetness, with rich and deeply indigenous roots.