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Troglodyte
You don't need to expand your vocabulary, you just need to know this magical word!
WTF! or you stupid... I know I know after reading this above statement, that kind of scream might have generated at once!:D It's normal, so I don't mind! I am an open minded troglodyte even though I live in a enclosed cave!:D
Anyway...
If you know how to describe a thing, then you just need to learn this word that can work in behalf of a big vocabulary pool.
Whatchamacallit (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/whatchamacallit)
Definition: "<em>used when you are speaking about something or someone whose name you can not remember</em>"
You don't remember the name of that big fat animal with a long nose or that tall slim animal with a big neck? Well, now you can insert "whatchamacallit" and the person will get you in no time!:D
BTW, I wonder why there is "chama" in whatchamacallit. I couldn't guess it from the pronunciation. I can understand why there is a "what", "call' and "it" but what is "chama" for? Could anyone shed some light on this?
What's the equivalent word for Whatchamacallit in your language?
I think the American speaker use thingamajig?
Got to know in some languages:
Chingader(Spanish)
Himstergims(Danish)
Naninani(Japanese)
Zamazingo(Turkish)
Dingsbums(German)
Huppeldepup(Dutch)
Shusmo(Arabic)
Wichajster(Polish)
Please let me know if all the above are correct as I got them on the internet! And please mention the word in your language if you have one!:)
Wish you have a whatchamacallit-- the thing that makes you feel good, makes you smile and makes your day!:D
PS: Hey, don't be lazy!:D Keep learning new words!:)
Feb 20, 2020 3:30 PM
Comments · 9
3
We don't refer to people with this word. It is only for things. As Miguel has stated below, we use "whats-his-face" for people.
We have other words that seem to mean the same thing as whatchamacallit:
hoojiggy
thingamabob
thingamajig.
February 20, 2020
3
I just say "thingy" for just about anything. For a person, "whatshisface" is handy but sounds rude so "whatshisname" is a good alternative. =)
February 20, 2020
2
Whatchamacallit = what you may call it
February 20, 2020
1
What do you call it.
when spoken fast by some speakers the blurring of words sound a little like 'whadoucalit'
when spoken even faster the sound is a little like whahacaallit'
Now imagine someone struggling to find the word and you get an"mm' in the middle.
'whatchamacallit' it makes more sense when you have experienced rough native speakers forget and struggle for a word.
February 20, 2020
1
I'd like to add Dingsdabums, the combination of Dingsda and Dingsbums to Ali's comment. Btw, there was a show in Germany called "Dingsda", where kids would explain words and adults would have to guess the answers. Here are the top 5 explanations: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV8nNxcjpNI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV8nNxcjpNI</a>. Absolutely hilarious!
February 20, 2020
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Troglodyte
Language Skills
Akan Twi, English, Esperanto, German, Other, Persian (Farsi), Russian, Spanish
Learning Language
Akan Twi, English, Esperanto, German, Persian (Farsi), Russian, Spanish
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