The strange, the bizarre and the unexpected

[Spike1007]

I just saw TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA (and -PHOBIC) for the first time in a long time. (Fear of the number 13.) For the hell of it, I tried FRIGGATRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA (just because it was there) and to my surprise it worked. Turns out that's a fear of Friday the 13th.

[2cute]

I became curious about words with no vowels some time ago and found this:
https://scrabble.merriam.com/words-without-vowels

This is a great find & really helpful, thanks!

[lalatan]

That's a beaut. It reminds me of 1 of my favorite finds: PERNICKETINESSES (the British equivalent of persnickety). There must be a board where we can find PERNICKETIEST or even PERSNICKETIEST. BOLO

Yesterday while playing 5x5 I found PERSNICKETIEST for 27 pts/2 records (I actually found it after playing it a month after I posted about finding PERNICKETIEST in 4x4 but didn't bother writing about it). Now I have the complete collection. I think that's the highest scoring -iest word that's been played. Anyone get a higher score for a word ending in that suffix?

currerbell, I'm currently retooling my brain to collect 4x4 records next month (I'll see how long that will last.). At the end of the month I thought I'd try to play 51 games all in one day and see what APPW I can come up with. I got the gold before using my "speed trophy hunting" technique (not many competitors back then though) but it took me 2 days to get 51 games of a high enough pt value which I also knew. I played 3 games today where you were the best word record holder: 12, 14, 18 pts. I couldn't even find the lower scoring words but had no trouble w the 18 pt one. (Apparently there are too many 12-14 pt words for my brain to keep track of.) Congrats on locking down those boards.

[Chop Chop]

Very cool and sounds fun

[DrPlacebo]

I just got points for ZINGARO. The only reason I thought of trying it was the Anvil Chorus (Coro di Zingari) from Il Trovatore.

[rsneha]

I became curious about words with no vowels some time ago and found this:

https://scrabble.merriam.com/words-without-vowels

I was amazed there are so many, although many longer words have a y in them. According to this y is a vowel sometimes and sometimes not (I recall from elementary school the vowel list: a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y. But I was never taught why it's sometimes y.)
https://www.merriam-webster.com/word...%20or%20beyond

Also check this Word Finder site

[floppers]

just....ewwww.

[DonGuy47]

"The sausage casing was filled with ground snouts and anuses."

Sure wish I could unsee that.

[dannyb]

I've seen it a few times, but ANUSES always amuses me. I can't imaging any circumstances, other than this game, where I would need to use that word!

I have seen it used: I read that word in a sentence something like this: "The sausage casing was filled with ground snouts and anuses."

[lalatan]

I once had a discussion with a native Serbian speaker. She told me that in school she was told that S and R are also vowels, and pointed out that they could be used that way in English as well -- you could pronounce them to connect consonants with no trouble at all. Her example, if I remember it correctly, was "Srpska". Anyone can say it despite the lack of any "vowels" in the first five letters.

That's interesting, bwt. My paternal grandfather was from the Czech Republic (born in Mnichivo Hradiste). I checked out some of the language and there are some crazy consonant blends (as seen in name of the city) and all kinds of diacritics. (One of their Olympic athletes was a Roman Srble some marks above the surname. It was pronounced Sheberlay) I just left it at that; no pt in learning all that as most Czechs probably know English. Sounds like the Serbs have some of the same stuff in their lingo.

Russ, you're welcome.

[RussDNails]

The Scrabble link is a great find lalatan. Plan to print this out and memorize as many as I can with the hope they are accepted on Wordtwist. CRWTH and PSST are accepted. I was really surprised there are so many! Thanks for posting.

Cheers,

Russ

[bwt1213]

I once had a discussion with a native Serbian speaker. She told me that in school she was told that S and R are also vowels, and pointed out that they could be used that way in English as well -- you could pronounce them to connect consonants with no trouble at all. Her example, if I remember it correctly, was "Srpska". Anyone can say it despite the lack of any "vowels" in the first five letters.

[lalatan]

I also like CRWTH and PSST which as far as I know are the only 4+ letter English words without a vowel.

SHH and HMM are the only 3 letter words I know of without a vowel but I don't play 4 x 4 so I don't ever use these.

NTH might also work on 4 x 4.

I became curious about words with no vowels some time ago and found this:

https://scrabble.merriam.com/words-without-vowels

I was amazed there are so many, although many longer words have a y in them. According to this y is a vowel sometimes and sometimes not (I recall from elementary school the vowel list: a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y. But I was never taught why it's sometimes y.)
https://www.merriam-webster.com/word...%20or%20beyond

[floppers]

I call Obi Wan Kenobi (the dog), Doobie for short...I don't think the offspring know the vernacular...

[RussDNails]

I always get a chuckle out of DOOB, DOOBS, DOOBIE, and DOOBIES. All available on the same board if you find it........

I also like CRWTH and PSST which as far as I know are the only 4+ letter English words without a vowel.

SHH and HMM are the only 3 letter words I know of without a vowel but I don't play 4 x 4 so I don't ever use these.

NTH might also work on 4 x 4.