What Are Word Geeks?

Verbophiles

A true word geek would never actually refer to herself as a word geek. This is because there is a much fancier way of explaining that she loves to learn, memorize and use new words. Since word geeks are all about using the most obscure vocabulary possible, they prefer to identify themselves as "verbophiles."

In general, most word geeks are quite smart. Verbophiles are typically excellent writers and speakers. They usually excel in language classes and love to read. However, when it comes to math and science, verbophiles may or may not be as adept.

Socially conscious word geeks will tone down their vocabulary so that they can be understood by the average person. They might slip up from time to time and let a word like "amalgamate" or "fallow" escape their lips, but for the most part they are quite comprehensible. More socially awkward word geeks have a difficult time with normal conversation. They just don't understand why nobody knows what they mean when they use the word "abstemious." Don't even try to have a normal conversation with this type of verbophile. Just smile and nod.

Perhaps you have recently discovered that someone you know is a verbophile. Maybe it's the cute girl in your homeroom or your boss, and you feel a great deal of pressure to impress this person. Never fear: All you have to do is use a couple of big words correctly and you're in. Here are a few words that will have any word geek drooling: A "betenoire" is someone or something that is extremely disliked and avoided; "prescience" means having knowledge of something before it occurs; something that is "specious" is accurate from a superficial perspective but is actually incorrect when examined more carefully.