20 Obscure Words to Help You Survive Thanksgiving
Before you eat your feelings this year, verbalize them with these with these 20 obscure-yet-relatable words from around the world.
![A black and white image of a woman and a man eating Turkey. There is a orange and blue border on the image.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/67900c79c7eae2ab886ebb9e_20-Words-to-Help-You-Survive-Thanksgiving-2020-1-1024x576-1.jpg)
Ah, Thanksgiving. A time for laughter. A time for tradition. A time for family dysfunction and long-simmering tension waiting to surface.
Chances are your holiday gathering might be smaller, or even virtual, this year. But just because your drunken Uncle Nucky isn’t there IRL doesn’t guarantee he won’t find a way to flaunt his Turkey-bloated belly on your family Zoom gathering.
Whatever twice-baked shenanigans your family finds itself cooking up, we’re here to set you up for success with the best communication tools possible.
But sometimes, closed captions alone aren’t enough. So to help you navigate any deep-fried dysfunction you encounter, we’re doing exactly what Momma always told us to do: we’re usin’ our words.
In fact, we’ve rounded up a whole arsenal of obscure words from around the world to help you verbalize the spectrum of experiences and emotions Turkey Day inevitably brings. Sure, Thanksgiving is an American tradition, but this year, take comfort in the universality of your feelings before drowning them in gravy.
UMCHINA (Korean)
A fictional person that your parents compare you to who is brilliant at everything.
![Rev graphic with the word Umchina and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4ba1_67900fa2a264562282a75ac4_umchina.jpeg)
ULTRACREPIDARIAN
A person who criticizes, judges, or gives advice outside the area of his or her expertise.
![Rev graphic with the word Ultracrepidarian and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b8d_67900fae8679b9f38d054452_ultracrepidarian.jpeg)
TIDSOPTIMIST (Swedish)
A person who’s habitually late because they think they have more time than they actually do. Literally “time optimist.”
![Rev graphic with the word Tidsoptimist and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4bad_67900fb894d07ca4860070dc_tidsoptimist.png)
SHEMOMEDJAMO (Georgian)
To keep eating even though you’re full because the food tastes so good.
![Rev graphic with the word Shemomedjamo and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b79_67900fc394d07ca4860078d0_shemomedjamo.png)
SCURRYFUNGE
To hastily tidy before you have houseguests.
![Rev graphic with the word Scurryfunge and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b6a_67900fce69936992c4c92882_scurryfunge.png)
QUAFFTIDE
The hour or season when it’s finally time for a drink.
![Rev graphic with the word Quafftide and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4ba4_67900fd853c0c18d13c146c0_quafftide.jpeg)
OPSOMANIA
A longing for one particular food and no other will do.
![Rev graphic with the word Opsomania and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b73_67900fe3678ecedc1d426b97_opsomania.png)
NUDICROUS
The level of inebriation when someone feels the need to remove clothing.
![Rev graphic with the word Nudicrous and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b7c_67900fefb30184b096d745f8_nudicrous.png)
NIBLINGS
Nieces and nephews.
![Rev graphic with the word Niblings and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b67_67900ffbc3f541801c55dac2_niblings.jpeg)
LOGY
Feeling heavy and disinclined to move.
![Rev graphic with the word Logy and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4bb0_67901006fc6bc83471f82c1a_logy.png)
LETHONOMIA
The inability to remember someone’s name.
![Rev graphic with the word Lethonomia and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b64_679010139ee9e79d8e5f4779_lethonomia.png)
LATIBULATE
To hide in a corner (as at a party where you only know one person).
![Rev graphic with the word Latibulate and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4bb3_679010211ddaa7a4b0cbd39d_latibulate.jpeg)
KKONDAE (Korean)
An older person who believes they are always right (and you are always wrong).
![Rev graphic with the word KKondae and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b76_6790102b05c0a47f768ef579_kkondae.png)
KUMMERSPECK (German)
Literally “grief bacon.” Refers to the excess weight gained from emotional over-eating.
![Rev graphic with the word Kummerspeck and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b61_679010381e6148b3ad319a19_kummerspeck.jpeg)
DEIPNOSOPHIST
A person skilled in the art of dinner-table conversation.
![Rev graphic with the word Deipnosophist and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b70_67901046d9f0b3fe693fe33f_deipnosophist.jpeg)
KITTLE-PITCHERING (18th century slang)
A method of interrupting a boring person who tries to tell a long story by constantly throwing in questions about minor details of the story.
![Rev graphic with the word Kittle-Pitchering and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4bb6_679010543fdaaf48ce138351_kittle-pitchering.jpeg)
FREMDSCHÄMEN (German)
Feeling embarrassed on someone else’s behalf. Second-hand shame.
![Rev graphic with the word Fremdschamen and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4baa_67901060c1810a8d2b807092_fremdschamen.png)
GROAK
To stare longingly at someone who is eating in the hope that they will offer to share their food.
![Rev graphic with the word Groak and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b6d_6790106cfeee3a14d5e810a5_groak.jpeg)
BETSUBARA (Japanese)
Literally “extra stomach.” The feeling when you suddenly discover you’re still hungry when dessert comes out.
![Rev graphic with the word Betsubara and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4b90_6790107d798a46c3bc2e36d1_betsubara.jpeg)
ACCISMUS (1500s)
The refusal of something you actually really want, hoping that the other person will insist you take it.
![Rev graphic with the word Accismus and it's definition](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65e5ae1fb7482afd48d22155/679010a636c75020b28a4ba7_67901096165b2ce385171e00_Accismus.png)
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