Butterfly Effect 🦋Nov 26, 2022
Clive Thompson

Behold "Fakelish", a fun little web tool that generates plausible-sounding but fake/meaningless English words: https://fakelish.nwtgck.org

Some examples, from when I just refreshed it right now:

Outenesse
Trosion
Unprotleses
Bargaster
Catessal
Unewaill
Unprealle
Proffus
Swineggaing
Tahardarm
Rotimers
Oveneogal
Petrequed
Punferced
Unexones
Enonchieste
Stpiochilly
Santimparay
Lasectoid
Xahawisming

#language #web

Fakelish

Nov 25, 2022 at 5:35pmWeb
Show threadArclightNov 25, 2022
@clive Most of these are pharmaceuticals that you can't afford...
Show threadClive ThompsonNov 25, 2022

@arclight

"Ask your doctor if Lasectoid is right for you"

Show threadBarry Schwartz 🫖Nov 25, 2022
@clive @arclight
Rotimers is just rotamers misspelt.
Show threadAnne ClaraNov 25, 2022
@clive And this site where an AI generates invented words with definition: https://www.thisworddoesnotexist.com/
This Word Does Not Exist

We use artificial intelligence to make up new English words.

Show threadClive ThompsonNov 25, 2022

@AnneClara

Another great one, yeah!

Show threadTom ResingNov 25, 2022
@AnneClara @clive funny!
Show threadJohn of ArcNov 25, 2022
@clive Some of these look Welsh lol
Show threadClive ThompsonNov 25, 2022

@johnofarc

heh heh yeah

Show threadKatMNov 25, 2022
@clive scrolling a little too fast I missed the lede and thought "wow maybe I follow too many people on here that use specialist vocabulary that I don't at all understand" 😅
Show threadClive ThompsonNov 25, 2022

@KatEmm

lolol yes

Show threadIstvan HajnalNov 25, 2022
@clive For a lasectoid I thought you were Swineggaing the Rotimers.
Show threadClive ThompsonNov 25, 2022

@IstvanHajnal

Nah, just unewailling the proffus

Show threadKeksNov 25, 2022

@clive According to my English linguistics knowledge, at least “Stpiochilly” can’t be a word of the english language. “P” after “st” just doesn’t make sense and can not be pronounced with the english sound inventory.

*nerd mode intensifies*

Show threadClive ThompsonNov 25, 2022

@chocokekskrueml

Yeah, that sounds like a mistake indeed

Show threadKen M SweeneyNov 26, 2022
@chocokekskrueml @clive it's originally from Ireland 😅
Show threadClive ThompsonNov 26, 2022

@chocokekskrueml @TheComfortableSpotPodcast

Heh — or wales

Show threadKeksNov 27, 2022
@clive @TheComfortableSpotPodcast *surprised linguistic pikachu face*
Show threadJay McGavrenNov 25, 2022
@clive Wonder if this was used to generate all those disposable brand names one sees on Amazon.
Show threadClive ThompsonNov 25, 2022

@jaymcgavren

lol, yes!

Show threadOakland Techno SerfNov 25, 2022
@clive I swear I could provide definitions for at least a third of those
Show threadtimjallisonNov 25, 2022
@clive doesn’t everyone already use Bargaster? Noun (he’s a real Bargaster), verb (I think she’s bargastering me), adjective (Monday mornings are so bargaster).
Show threadClive ThompsonNov 25, 2022

@timjallison

now that you mention it, they DO

Show threadShield MaidenNov 26, 2022
@clive I particularly like "lasectoid".
Show threadClive ThompsonNov 26, 2022

@Judeet88

I truly love that one too. It’s so evocative, I can imagine like seven different meanings!

Show threadShield MaidenNov 26, 2022
@clive I'm going to sneak it into my next game of Scrabble...and argue passionately for it, stating that it's awaiting entry into usual main dictionaries....
Show threadJosh McHughNov 27, 2022
@clive not Stpiochilly
Show threadClive ThompsonNov 27, 2022

@mc_huge

Yeah that one violates the way english words use letters