The 80 rarest words in Spanish (and their meaning)
Ludwig Wittgenstein, a well-known Austrian philosopher, once said that the limits of a language are the limits of the world itself and, since Spanish is a language with nearly 80,000 words, it was clear that it would be no exception.
Today we are going to look at the 80 rarest words in Spanish and their meaning, which however many they may seem are but a small sample of all the surprisingly little used lexicon of our language. Let’s learn them.
The 80 rarest words in Spanish, explained
Below you will find, in alphabetical order, the meaning of 80 very rare words in Spanish that, for sure, will not leave anyone indifferent.
1. Abuhado
It is said of those people who have an appearance reminiscent of an owl or similar bird.
2. Drying
Act of salting the meats and putting them in the air. Action of converting a meat product into a jerky.
3. Agigolation
An adjective, typical of the province of Segovia, used to describe someone who, when doing something with a little effort, feels that he is drowning and perceives a pressure on his chest.
4. Alveo
The mother of a natural water feature, usually a stream or river.
5. Tree
It is the effect of the light of the Sun when projected on the morning and afternoon clouds, which gives them reddish tones
6. Bahorrina
Set of many disgusting things that have been thrown in water , which has become dirty. It also means a set of filthy and mean people.
7. Bonhomie
Affability, simplicity, kindness and honesty of character.
8. Burdégano
Hybrid between a horse and a donkey.
9. Cagaprisas
A person who is impatient, who is always in a hurry.
10. Celaje
When in the sky you can see clouds of different textures, forming a colorful horizon at sunset or sunrise.
11. Conflict
Act of provoking a conflict in someone or something . It also means to suffer an internal conflict or worry that may cause the behaviour to change.
12. Depauperar
Weakening, physically or morally debilitating, either to oneself or to another person
13. Dissolve
Dissolve something, solid or paste-like, in a liquid.
14. Droppings
Defecation of excrements.
15. Ebony
Made of ivory or a material that resembles it.
16. Connection
Kinship relationship between people who share a common lineage trunk.
17. Smegma
Secretion of the preputial glands. Part of the semen thicker.
18. Falcado
Which has a sickle-like curvature.
19. Pharmacopoeia
Repertory or book of medical prescriptions , which can be both drugs and phytotherapeutics.
20. Ful
Faso, failed, who has little value.
21. Garambaina
Tasteless ornaments or objects that are chickens. It also means tasteless gestures
22. Garlito
Fishing tool which consists of a net in whose narrowest part there is a net with which to catch the fish.
23. Gaznápiro
Fool, hillbilly, person who’ll get sucked into anything.
24. Haiga
Large and ostentatious car , such as a limousine, a luxury SUV or a private bus.
25. Heresiarca
One who promotes heresy, one who ignites the spark in an act against a religion or
26. Hermeneuta
A person who interprets texts, usually of a religious or ethical nature, to establish their true meaning.
27. Histrion
Actor. Also referred to for those people who express themselves in the characteristic way of a person who is overacting.
28. Idiotism
Linguistic turn or expression that does not conform to grammatical rules.
29. Immaculate
Said of a vegetable that cannot wither.
30. Isagoge
Introduction, preamble.
31. Jerapellina
Ragged old dress, piece of cloth that can’t get much more than that.
32. Jerigonza
Language used in some guilds, i.e. specialized vocabulary in a certain professional field.
33. Jipiar
Moaning, hiccupping, whining. It also means to sing with a voice similar to that of a whimper.
34. Joyel
Little jewel.
35. Labarum
Standard that was used by the ancient Romans. It is also the name of the monogram formed by the cross and the first two letters of the Greek name of Christ.
36. Lobanillo
Woody lump formed in the bark of trees . It also has its human version, which consists of a superficial lump, usually not painful, that forms on the head and other parts of the body.
37. Limitation
Madness of love. An involuntary state of mind in which the attraction of one person to another prevents him or her from thinking rationally.
38. Mellifluous
Excessively sweet, soft or delicate sound.
39. Mondo
Said of something that is clean and free of extra, added or superfluous things.
40. Nadir
Point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite to the zenith.
41. Nefando
Something that causes disgust or horror when spoken of. Something that is equally abominable and disgusting.
42. Nephelimate
A dreamy person , who finds herself in the dark and remains isolated from the harsh and cruel world.
43. Nubile
Said of a person, especially a woman, who is of marriageable age.
44. Ñengo
Weakling, skinny, unkempt person.
45. Ñomblón
Said of a very fat person, with good buttocks.
46. Ñuzco
One of the names by which the Devil or Prince of the Angels of Evil is referred to.
47. Ochavo
Synonym for eighth, used to refer to one eighth of something. It is also used to indicate that something has little value. In ancient times it was a Spanish copper coin weighing one eighth of an ounce.
48. Oleaginous
Synonymous with oily, oil-like texture.
49. Orate
A person who is not in full psychic faculties, who has lost his mind.
50. Petricor
Smell that the earth gives off when it has been wet by raindrops.
51. Plañir
Moaning and crying in such a way that others hear it. Sobbing and crying.
52. Patibulary
Said of someone or something which, because of its disgusting appearance, produces a great deal of dread and horror.
53. Patochada
Nonsense, a foolish thing to say, a nonsense.
54. Picio
Said of someone who has had the misfortune to be excessively ugly.
55. Quincalla
Set of metal objects, with little value. They can be scissors, imitation jewellery, damaged car parts…
56. Container
Person who is solemnly received by the institution that receives him/her.
57. Gloating
Delight in the misfortune of others, the act of rejoicing in the misfortune of others.
58. RegnÃcola
Natural inhabitant of a kingdom. Also said of one who writes of the special things of his homeland, such as penal codes, national habits, culture in general.
59. Reprobate
Sentenced to eternal punishment . Also said of a
60. Knowledge
A word once used as a synonym for taste. It was also used to refer to a joke or a snap.
61. Sapenco
A terrestrial snail with transverse brown stripes common to most southern Europe.
62. Everlasting
Said of something that will last forever. Something that has a beginning, but no end.
63. Serendipity
A finding, which was not planned, that proved to be a lucky thing despite the fact that it was looking for something else.
64. Trapisonda
Fighting with voices or actions. It also means agitation of the sea, formed by small waves that cross in different directions.
65. Front man
A person who lends his or her name in a contract that would actually be signed by someone else.
66. Tremolo
A musical concept that describes a rapid succession of repetitions of the same note.
67. Ubérrimo
Said of something that is very fertile and abundant.
68. Ukraine
Utopia applied to history . Counterfactual reconstruction of a historical event, in a way that in the end it was not.
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69. Uebos
A word, already in disuse, which means a need or a task.
70. Unique
Person who is an only child.
71. Vagado
Moaning or crying of a newborn.
72. Verbs
Synonymous with for example.
73. Vituperation
Insult, slander or infamy that results from the action of having offended someone.
74. Vulpine
Word used to designate everything that is related to foxes .
75. Xerophytic
This is about those plants that are adapted by their structure to dry environments.
76. Xerophthalmia
An eye disease in which there is dryness of the eyeball and retraction of the conjunctiva, as well as corneal opacity.
77. Xeromycosis
Dryness of the nasal mucosa.
78. Zaino
Traitor, fake, unsure of the deal.
79. Zangolote
Constantly moving from one place to another without purpose.
80. Zonzo
Bland, dull and insipid. Also said to refer to someone or something that turns out to be pretty dumb.
Bibliographic references:
- Quotient. (2018.). In Diccionario de la Real Academia Española (23ª edición).