'Mother' deemed the most beautiful word in English

London 24 November 2004 Mother is the most beautiful word in the English language, according to a survey of over 40,000 overseas voters and learners of English at British Council teaching centres. The survey was conducted by the British Council to coincide with its 70th anniversary celebrations.

The British Council asked over 7,000 learners in 46 countries what they considered to be the most beautiful words in the English language. In addition an online poll was run via British Council websites in all non-English speaking countries. Over 35,000 people voted.

The list in full:

1. Mother

2. Passion

3. Smile

4. Love

5. Eternity

6. Fantastic

7. Destiny

8. Freedom

9. Liberty

10. Tranquillity

11. Peace

12. Blossom

13. Sunshine

14. Sweetheart

15. Gorgeous

16. Cherish

17. Enthusiasm

18. Hope

19. Grace

20. Rainbow

21. Blue

22. Sunflower

23. Twinkle

24. Serendipity

25. Bliss

26. Lullaby

27. Sophisticated

28. Renaissance

29. Cute

30. Cosy

31. Butterfly

32. Galaxy

33. Hilarious

34. Moment

35. Extravaganza

36. Aqua

37. Sentiment

38. Cosmopolitan

39. Bubble

40. Pumpkin

41. Banana

42. Lollipop

43. If

44. Bumblebee

45. Giggle

46. Paradox

47. Delicacy

48. Peekaboo

49. Umbrella

50. Kangaroo

51. Flabbergasted

52. Hippopotamus

53. Gothic

54. Coconut

55. Smashing

56. Whoops

57. Tickle

58. Loquacious

59. Flip-flop

60. Smithereens

61. Oi

62. Gazebo

63. Hiccup

64. Hodgepodge

65. Shipshape

66. Explosion

67. Fuselage

68. Zing

69. Gum

70. Hen-night

(I've looked, but I don't see Beer )

What would be the most beautiful word in Thai?

What about "plonker", "<deleted>", i can list hundreds of great words.

What about "plonker", "<deleted>", i can list hundreds of great words.

Ah but that's not Thai.

I like 'Fon Tok'

or is that another thread?

dog bed (sorry about the spelling, it looks better spelt this way)

How about "naa weet taa naa" น่าเวทนา = pathetic!

Was this judged by the way it sounded, or what it means? because syphilis rolls of the tounge quite nicely..

According to the script on the cult classic "Donnie Darko" the most beautiful word(s)in English = "Cellar Door."

In Thai it would have to be "Chamook"

"More"

What would be the most beautiful word in Thai?

I like the sound of the word, Thanon (road). More powerful than beautiful really.

There is one word which is beautiful in any language

MARMITE

Wheres 'Fart' on that list?

Wheres 'Fart' on that list?

Probably after arse, Professor

Didn't see empathy or courage on the list.

Also Missing:

bliss

cum

orgasm

seretonin

rush

fornication

fear

70. Hen-night? Ha! A bunch of alcohol fueled ladies duck-taping each other to street-poles. Oh so beautiful.

dog bed (sorry about the spelling, it looks better spelt this way)

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I don't want to go fishing

dog bed (sorry about the spelling, it looks better spelt this way)

I don't want to go fishing

For Thais it's gotta be 'Baht'.

'Clit' that rolls off the tongue nicely.

Curly wurly's a good 'un.

On the big list the ones in the second half are better than the ones in the first half. The top ten are areally pathetic.....too cerebral.......heh 'cerebral'...not bad

Davethailand now has the forums best avatar by far

Those guys make me p1ss myself.

I pity those who cannot grasp English humour.

Foreskin

Ballsack

scrotum

mulligan

o'hare

Big

Blah

Blue

Blixen

The Finest

Fighting

Grandmother

Of

All

Living

Time

Cellar Door

Haven't seen Donnie Darko, however I suspect the quote about "cellar door" being the most beautiful word is stolen directly from JRR Tolkien. I wrote an essay about the old man and he said the same thing. I guess he could have stolen it from somewhere else again though.

Cellar Door

Haven't seen Donnie Darko, however I suspect the quote about "cellar door" being the most beautiful word is stolen directly from JRR Tolkien. I wrote an essay about the old man and he said the same thing. I guess he could have stolen it from somewhere else again though.

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Yes that could be right. They quoted someone famous saying it.

Simbo! Have you lost your manners???.......

I always liked b words... Beer, bugger, bush, buds, beaver and maybe banned

Mother is a great word, add an f word to it and it becomes one of the most unloved words in english

C*nt is a beauty.

For Thais it's gotta be 'Baht'.

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u got it

And for the rest of us.........MONEY

Might have negative adjectives and un-recognisable comparisons but all boils down to the same thing...

Dirty Money

Loads-a-money

Filthy Lucre

Wads of Cabbage

Bags of Dosh

Moolah

Dints-Dinars -Doughnuts

and for uz old hippies......got any Bread ...man

The list must have been complied by a splitarse.

I still say Fart should be top of the list. It's a word that cannot fail but bring a smile to ones face. It has onomatapaic qualities like no other word.

The list must have been complied by a splitarse.

I still say Fart should be top of the list. It's a word that cannot fail but bring a smile to ones face. It has onomatapaic qualities like no other word.

If fart's at the top, surely flatulance ain't far behind (no pun intended).

For Thais it's gotta be 'Baht'.

and for uz old hippies......got any Bread ...man

Thought it was "Don't Bogart That Joint"!

"I still say Fart should be top "

I am no biologist but shouldn't fart be at the bottom ?