As a little girl, Roald Dahl's books were always my first choice. I remember reading books like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "The Witches," and "George's Marvellous Medicine," with great delight, often under the covers, way past my bedtime. When I had to audition for drama, his books were my go-to excerpts. You couldn't just read them - the writing style forced you to get completely into character. Today it's such a joy to see that my son Adriel, 8, has also developed a love for Dahl's books. Roald Dahl had a knack for crafting narratives that tickle the imagination and transport you into a world of wonder. On Roald Dahl Day, Express Yourself is celebrating the world's best storyteller by sharing with you some of his fantastical terms.
Don't just read them - use them to have fun and Express Yourself!
Scrumdiddlyumptious
Meaning: Used to describe something exceptionally delicious. Dahl created this term to evoke the ultimate taste sensation, often linked with his whimsical chocolate creations.
Example: “The chocolate cake was absolutely scrumdiddlyumptious, with every bite melting in my mouth.”
Gloriumptious
Meaning: Wonderful or splendid. This term conveys a sense of grand delight or exuberant joy, capturing the essence of Dahl’s lively and positive characters.
Example: “The surprise party was truly gloriumptious, leaving everyone in high spirits and full of cheer.”
Swizzfiggled
Meaning: To be deceived or tricked. Dahl used this word to describe the feeling of being outwitted or misled, often with a humorous twist.
Example: “I was completely swizzfiggled by the magician’s trick; I still can’t figure out how he did it!”
Spiffing
Meaning: Splendid or excellent. This term conveys high praise and admiration, often used by Dahl’s characters in a quintessentially British manner.
Example: “The performance was absolutely spiffing; the actors were incredible and the set was stunning.”
Rotsome
Meaning: Terrible or disgusting. Dahl used this term to describe something thoroughly unpleasant, often in a comedic context.
Example: “The old socks I found in his room were rotsome—definitely in need of a good wash!”
Biffsquiggled
Meaning: Confused or bewildered. This term captures a state of being completely flustered, a common occurrence in Dahl’s chaotic worlds.
Example: “After trying to solve the puzzle for hours, I was utterly biffsquiggled and had to take a break.”
Gorgonzola
Meaning: Used humorously by Dahl to describe someone who is obnoxious or disagreeable, deriving from the name of the pungent cheese.
Example: “Don’t be such a gorgonzola; it’s time to be nice and play along with the others.”
Zippity
Meaning: Lively or energetic. This term captures the spirit of vibrant and enthusiastic action seen in Dahl’s adventures.
Example: “The children’s zippity excitement was evident as they raced through the obstacle course.”
Jumblies
Meaning: A term for a mixture of things that are nonsensical or chaotic. It reflects Dahl’s fondness for whimsical and absurd combinations.
Example: “The jumblies of different colored lights and decorations created a wonderfully chaotic holiday display.”
Wizzle
Meaning: Something magical or extraordinary.
Example: “The magician’s act was a real wizzle, full of wonder and enchantment that left the audience spellbound.”
Ploppsy
Meaning: Something soft and squishy. Dahl used this word to describe the texture of fantastical objects or creatures.
Example: “The plush toy was so ploppsy that it was perfect for cuddling on a cold night.”
Pishposh
Meaning: Nonsense or trivial matters. This term is used to dismiss something as unimportant or silly in a quaint, endearing way.
Example: “Don’t worry about the small details; it’s all just pishposh compared to the bigger picture.”
Snugglemuffin
Meaning: A term of endearment for something or someone exceptionally cuddly or lovable.
Example: “My dog is such a snugglemuffin; I can’t resist cuddling him every evening.”
Snozzling
Meaning: Making a noise while sleeping or snoring.
Example: “The baby was softly snozzling in the crib, making gentle sounds that were soothing to hear.”
Flummox
Meaning: To bewilder or confuse. It describes a state of being perplexed or puzzled.
Example: “The complex instructions flummoxed everyone, leaving us all scratching our heads.”
Bumptious
Meaning: Self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree. It describes someone who is excessively self-assured.
Example: “His bumptious attitude at the meeting was off-putting, overshadowing his otherwise good ideas.”
Jabbeling
Meaning: Incessant chatter or gibberish. This term describes moments of confusing or nonsensical conversation.
Example: “The meeting turned into a session of jabbeling, with everyone talking over each other.”
Wiggywackle
Meaning: A state of confusion or disarray. This term humorously describes a chaotic situation.
Example: “After the power outage, the office was in complete wiggywackle, with papers and files scattered everywhere.”
Whizzpopper
Meaning: A term describing an unpleasant release of gas.
Example: “After the fizzy drinks, there were a few whizzpoppers at the party, causing some chuckles.”
Lickswishy
Meaning: Describes a delicious or flavorful taste. It conveys the sensation of enjoying a particularly delightful flavor.
Example: “The chef’s lickswishy sauce brought out the best flavors in the dish
Sometimes we all need to take a break from the tizzwhizzle (hecticness and frenzy) of our lives, and just have fun, using the joy of language to express ourselves!
Ps. Much like Roald Dahl, we specialize in making communication captivating and memorable. For support with public speaking, communication coaching, PR, or brand journalism, reach out to us and let’s create something extraordinary together!
Pps. Which is your favourite Roald Dahl word?
I love this Mel, what a brilliant way to commemorate RD day! My favourite is Gobblefunk, the language of the whoopsey-splunkers BFG. There's a whole glossary available. The childershens would thoroughly enjoy it.