THE centenary of writer Roald Dahl’s birth is being celebrated across the world today.

The creator of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and The BFG has sold over 250 million books worldwide and remains a firm favourite with children and young adults.

Dahl, who died in 1990, was known for creating his own words throughout his work which became known as ‘gobblefunk’.

Some of these words have even made it into the dictionary.

To mark today’s centenary, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has published new and revised Dahlesque entries.

Michael Proffitt, chief editor of the OED, said: “The inclusion in OED of a number of words coined by or associated with Dahl reflects both his influence as an author and his vivid and distinctive style.

“For many children Dahl’s work is not only one of their first experiences of reading, but also their earliest exposure to the creative power of language.”

In an article on the OED website, Susan Rennie, editor of the Roald Dahl dictionary, writes: “Dahl built his new words from the building blocks of the old, using established patterns of word formation and sound symbolism, so children and grown-ups alike can make sense of it, even when seeing the words for the first time.”

 

There are 393 words invented by Dahl, so here are ten of our favourites – see how many you can work into everyday conversation today…

 

Scrumdiddlyumptious

When something is extremely delicious, it is scrumdiddlyumptious.

e.g. “I had a scrumdiddlyumptious slice of chocolate cake earlier and it would be rude not to have another.”

 

Uckyslush

Pretty much the opposite of scrumdiddlyumptious.

e.g. “Broccoli. How uckyslush.”

 

Crodsquinkled

To be caught out at something.

e.g. “I told everyone I was on a diet but I was crodsquinkled eating that cake earlier.”

 

Biffsquiggled

To be confused or puzzled.

e.g. “Everyone keeps using weird words today. I’m a little biffsquiggled.”

 

Bopmuggered

To be in a very bad situation.

e.g. “I don’t know any gobblefunk and it’s Roald Dahl Day. I’m bopmuggered.”

 

Trogglehumper

A particularly bad nightmare.

e.g. “I had a real trogglehumper last night, in which everyone only spoke in gobblefunk.”

 

Whoppsy-whiffling

Unbelievable or crazy.

e.g. “You won’t believe the whoppsy-whiffling day I’ve had.”

 

Catasterous

 

A mix of catastrophic and disastrous.

e.g. “I tried to use Dahlesque words all day but trying them out in an important meeting proved catasterous.”

Hopscotchy

Cheerful.

e.g. “I’m feeling quite hopscotchy with all this gobblefunk talk.”

 

 

Flushbunking

Something that makes no sense at all.

e.g. “I haven’t understood a word of this flushbunking article.”

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