For people whose native language is English, it seems like it’s not too difficult to learn or understand but that’s not actually the case. There are many reasons why people think the English language is ridiculous, and some of them just happen to be hysterical.
If you’ve ever wondered why so many words and rules in the English language don’t make much sense, you’re going to love these 50 hilarious reasons why English is the worst!
Here are 50 examples of why the English language can be extremely frustrating
https://www.facebook.com/MlleKarensac/photos/a.190522984467243.1073741828.164752503710958/422466967939509/?type=3&theater
1. Riddle me this
In the English language, there are tons of words that are spelled in the same way but pronounced completely differently. This meme says it all, the tricky hidden meanings and sounds are enough to make someone blow a gasket.
2. Hidden meanings
Another frustrating thing about the English language is all the ways in which words can change the entire meaning of other words. This person caught on, realizing that one sentence could have 7 different meanings depending on the stressed word.
3. Strict order
The English language is one of the easiest languages to mess up, and the order in which you must say words is one of the reasons behind this. Matthew Anderson took to his Twitter to show us things we know about English, but don’t know we know.
Source:
Twitter
4. Same letters, different words
Twitter user David Burge says it perfectly, “Yes, English can be weird. It can be understood through tough thorough thought, though.” Say that fast 10 times, you’re sure to get tongue twisted.
Source:
Twitter
5. Ghoti=Fish
This Tumblr user explains if words with silent f’s like enough, O’s that make I sounds, and t’s that make a “sh” sound, then the word “ghoti” should be pronounced “fish.” She’s definitely got a point.
6. “When English is not your native language”
I couldn’t even imagine learning the English language if it wasn’t my native language, and Facebook user Karensac gives us a sneak peek into how frustrating trying to speak the confusing language can be with this hilarious meme.
https://www.facebook.com/MlleKarensac/photos/a.190522984467243.1073741828.164752503710958/422466967939509/?type=3&theater
7. “A JarJar in a jar in an ajar jar”
This Reddit user captioned this meme “possibly the best thing about Jarjar Binks” and he might be right. Honestly, though, we just love everything about the quirky Star Wars character JarJar Binks.
8. Kinky pirate
This one will seriously have you laughing out loud, it basically explains why one little comma can change the entire meaning of a sentence. His example was “bite me, asshole” and “bite me asshole.” The first one is grammatically correct, but without the coma sounds like a kinky pirate.
9. “That that”
If you regularly use the English language, then you’ve definitely come across this problem. You know, the one where you need to use the word that twice, but don’t want to sound like a complete maniac.
10. Brussel sprouts
This Tumblr user whose first language is not English thought the word Brussel sprouts was the name of a celebrity, not some veggie that no one seems to like. I must say, that’s a weird name for a veggie.
11. The Oxford comma
This person learned about using the Oxford comma and never looked back, but sometimes it can seem pointless. Like is anyone really going to think you’re putting orange juice on your toast? Use your common sense people.
https://shortee.tumblr.com/post/7254948369/so-recently-ive-seen-posts-about-the-usage-of
12. “The correct way to spell potato”
This person explains how all the silent letters and weird sounds the English language uses make no sense. To his account, if we were accurately using them then potato would be spelled “GHOUGHPHTHEIGHTTEEAU.”
Source:
Twitter
13. “Will will smith smith?”
If you have a name like celebrity Will Smith, your name can be used in different ways that make it sound ridiculous. Like “will will smith smith?” or Will Smith will smith.”
14. The F-word has so many meanings
This meme is another perfect example of all the ways one word in the English language can be used. For example, the f-word can be used in tons of different ways, both good and bad. What were they thinking when they created this language?
Source:
Imgur
15. Spelt or spelled?
Only in America is spelled not spelled like spelt, you see how confusing it is to even try to explain some of the nonsense surrounding the English language? I feel sorry for anyone trying to learn it, what a mess.
https://tomche.tumblr.com/post/55596332552/pantryraids-dlubes-pantryraids-is-spelt
16. Why pineapple?
For whatever reason, the English language just has to be different than others. The word pineapple is the perfect example, in almost every other country the word for pineapple is “ananas” but we just have to make it different. Why pineapple though?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTpyvGqApyW/
17. So confusing
Having double meanings on words just makes the English language extremely confusing, and this Tumblr user says it perfectly: “I just realized that “lead” rhymes with “read,” but “lead” also rhymes with “read.” Two completely different words, spelled the exact same, how obnoxious.
18. “It’s what It’s
“It is what it is” is a super popular saying, but what happens when you use the shorter version of “it is” “it’s?” It becomes super confusing, that’s what happens.
https://nktjn.tumblr.com/post/149882630954/its-what-its
19. Tricky English
This Tumblr user got over 280,000 notes for this funny post, probably because tons of people related to it. It says: “Sometimes I English very well but sometimes no.”
20) Double meanings
Double meanings, like looking “pretty” and being “pretty” tend to make the English language so darn tricky. Not to mention, for people who don’t speak English very well that has to be ridiculously confusing.
21. Pronunciation problems
Why is it that some words have silent letters and sounds that make the pronunciation of them different, but then words like “salmonella” you pronounce every letter? I’m not sure why they made it that way, but this Tumblr user would really like to know.
22. Horrible apostrophes
This Tumblr user was trying to explain how the English language uses apostrophes to shorten words to his friend from Korea, and understandably the foreign exchange student was confused by it. “She just kind of stared at me in horror for a minute.”
23. Beautiful words
The English language isn’t all bad according to this Tumblr user, she ever went as far as posting a list of the “100 Most Beautiful Words in English.” That’s great and all, but it’s also really
https://yahel.tumblr.com/post/782985065/the-100-most-beautiful-words-in-english
24. “I yam who I yam”
This meme is supposed to be read “I yam who I yam” but some people read it “I potato who I potato” or “I sweet potato who I sweet potato.” Tumblr user noctstiel didn’t read it that way at all, he just “thought it was bread.”
25. #rickrolled his way straight into the English language
The fact that there’s been a verb created for describing sending people funny Rick Astley memes and links is beyond me. It just goes to show, anything can be added to the English language.
26. Huh?
The English language has an endless amount of weird and confusing rules, and this one sits right at the top of the list. This is more like a riddle than a sentence, oh English language, why do you do this to us?
27. English language conquests
This Tumblr user feels like the abbreviation “I’ma” is one of the English languages “greatest conquests,” but is it really? I mean, the fact that we’ve managed to shorten a four-word phrase into three letters is either genius or just pure laziness.
28. “Had Had”
The word “had” is already a super weird word when you really think about it, so when you add in the fact that it has more than one meaning it can just be annoying. Example: I had had a puppy, but then he grew up. That sounds ridiculous and looks even worse.
29. I’ll, Aisle, Isle
Can you imagine trying to learn a language and being told that multiple words that sound exactly the same actually have totally different meanings? That’s the English language for you, how rude.
30. “ENGLISH IS HARD”
These meme posted to Instagram gives 13 examples of why the English language is so difficult, and it couldn’t be more accurate. It’s like they were purposely trying to confuse us when they created it, but I guess we’ve just got to deal with it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMFnErcjrSB/
31. “AY YO MA”
British people say “mom” like “mum,” and evidently this Tumblr user had trouble grasping that. To takshammy did their best to translate “but mum” for her and ended up with “AY YO MA.” Sounds about right.
32. Hyphen irony
This person on Instagram pointed out the irony in using a hyphen to describe non-hyphenated words, and she’s not wrong. She better get used to it though, the English language is full of ironic sayings and meanings.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuAp0BfFtd0/
33. Their That Then
The best part about this Tumblr post is the hilarious comment from user langleav. After user tweakerwolf suggests replacing the “W’s” with “T’s” in where, what, and when, langleav commented: ‘runs around the house telling everyone.’
34. I before E
This coffee mug highlights the “I” before “E” rule, by listing a full sentence with words that completely contradict it. Why would they do this to us, it’s just wrong I tell ya.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmv3g3FnIL2/
35. Don’t call it that
This funny little poem shows us just how complicated the English language can be, and it’s really got a good flow to it. Whoever wrote this knows their stuff when it comes to the downfalls of English.
https://www.instagram.com/p/g7aPJ6IsX3/
36.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoAtzKYHJEh/
37. “Why English is so hard to learn
Author Marlene Davis wrote these examples of why the English language is hard to learn, and it’s those dreaded double meanings again. I feel like after they created all the words they probably realized there were so many double meanings, but at that point, it was too late and we were stuck with it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B68UQGqjllw/
38. Hypocritical English
Here’s another meme pointing out the irony in the “I” before “E” rule, and once again the rule makes no sense. Why even make a rule if you’re just going to do the opposite. Oh I get it, rules are must be meant to be broken.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Q92YMGN9JK/
39. “Why aliens fly straight past us”
The fact that “ph” can also be used as an “f” really has this Instagram user angry, he even suggests that it’s the reason aliens haven’t made contact. Don’t you know? They may already walk among us…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BACy4LznBpW/
40. Fun facts
This Tumblr user shared the reason that the plural for the word goose is geese but moose is not meese and it’s actually pretty interesting. Apparently, it’s because the word moose is a Native American word and is only 400 years old.
https://linguisticsyall.tumblr.com/post/63732188795/o-eheu-direcartographies-fun-fact-the
41. Another “I” before “E” dilemma
User Gramma’s Girl also has a bone to pick with the “I” before “E” rule, and it has to do with the word “their.” You have to admit though, she has a valid point.
Source:
Twitter
42. #stupidenglishlanguage
Twitter user Ed Cook pointed out the fact that bi-monthly has two different meanings, and we’ve got to give it to him, it makes no sense. So what does that mean, you’ve got to specify every time you use “bi-monthly?”
Source:
Twitter
43. Playing a bass like your bass
This meme will have you cracking up, and it’s not just because there are two meanings for the word “bass.” Just look at the hilarious picture, if that doesn’t make you laugh, I’m not sure what will.
https://www.instagram.com/p/62MGfSytXP/
44. Why? Just why?
This mother that homeschools made an Instagram post to show just how ridiculous it is trying to teach kids about phonics. “Why do we say dear and deer the same but not bear and beer?” Good question.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMzerCHL71r/
45. Pronounce this for me
Instagram page englishmakesnosense posted a meme asking how you’re supposed to pronounce GIF? Is it a hard “G” or soft “G?” Can’t help you there, I honestly have no idea.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMAMBvAFu46/
46. What the?
If you look at the word “understand” by both of the words separately it makes absolutely no sense. Neither word describes what “understand” actually means, so why in the heck did they pick those words? Who knows.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJFVlJHMW28/
47. “And Bob was All”
This meme shows how “said,” “like,” and “all” completely change the meaning of the sentence when using quotations. She’s really excited about the fact that “all” suggests you’re being “a dick about it,” and it actually is pretty hilarious but still rather confusing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBU_4x9nDBV/
48. Compliment vs Complement
If you’ve ever used “complement” in the wrong context, don’t feel bad, you’re not alone. This has to be one of the easiest ones to flip-flop, which begs the question again, why?
Source:
Twitter
49. Two “b’s”
Twitter user Seth Sommerfeld posted “Either rabbit needs one b or habit needs two,” and he has a great point with this post. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to get words changed. Time to start a petition.
Source:
Twitter
50. Valid points
This post shows people who have valid complaints about the English language and they’re totally right. My favorite one is: “Why does fridge have a “D” in it, but refrigerator doesn’t?” So true, that makes no sense whatsoever.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9dGmFmFHjy/
After seeing these 50 reasons why the English language can be ridiculous, you’re probably wondering what in the world they were thinking when creating it? Who knows, it might be confusing, but at least it makes for some hilarious meme material!