Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n An invented language similar to baby talk, used by pet owners to communicate with their pets. v. To speak to an animal using an invented language.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.
Petsperanto
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: peht spur anto
Sentence: she could speak both petsperanto and pigeon English, but rarely had anything of interest to contribute.
Etymology: esperanto, pet
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COMMENTS:
love it - Nosila, 2010-01-04: 09:27:00
Good work - I thought of this one too, then went in to read the words and saw that you had already posted it! - karenanne, 2010-01-04: 12:15:00
wonderful word.....gets my vote. - mweinmann, 2010-01-04: 20:16:00
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Critterfranca
Created by: serendipity9000
Pronunciation: cri-ter-frank-a
Sentence: He used to love sitting on his favorite bench in the park - until SHE started showing up each morning muttering in critterfranca to her poodle.
Etymology: critter (animal/pet) + franca (from lingua franca - any lanugage used as a way of speaking to others who speak different languages)
Petsperanto
Created by: Clayton
Pronunciation: pets-puh-RAHN-toh
Sentence: Petsperanto became fashionable once again in the 23rd century, but by then it resembled Klingon. Later it would lean more toward bafflegab, just as it always had, but Star Trek was taken a bit more seriously in those halcyon days. Of all the people to reanimate, why'd they pick Shatner?
Etymology: pet + Esperanto
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COMMENTS:
I couldn't decide between "Petsperanto" and "Espetanto." If somebody wants to take the other one, I'm cool with that. - Clayton, 2007-06-08: 02:15:00
probably his singing prowless? - jadenguy, 2007-06-08: 09:51:00
fabulous word Clayton - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-08: 12:14:00
maybe they like Shatner because he's such a 'regular' guy - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-08: 12:15:00
I'm only giving Shatner a hard time. I've decided also that I should've gone with "Espetanto." So hasty sometimes. - Clayton, 2007-06-08: 13:07:00
I love petsperanto - it's a great word and I referred to Shatner as being a regular guy because he does all those bran commercials - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-08: 13:25:00
"Petsperanto" is better than "Espetanto". - ErWenn, 2007-06-08: 14:12:00
I'm glad to hear that he did do bran commercials, Jabberwocky, because that's the kind of regular I was thinking of when you first said it, and I thought maybe my mind was just in the gutter...toilet...whatever. - ErWenn, 2007-06-08: 14:13:00
it's a good thing Clayton chose Shatner and not JL Picard - that would have led to all kinds of silliness - we could have even encorporated Galwaywegian's baldipachitis into it - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-08: 14:39:00
"Espetanto" has a nice ring to it, though. Damn, now I can't decide again. If anybody reading this works at a coffeeshop, please invent the Espressperanto. I'll take fifty of the most confusing drink known to man, please. - Clayton, 2007-06-08: 16:24:00
Sounds like coffee with a dash of Spanish fly - petaj, 2007-06-08: 22:25:00
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Petois
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: pet-twa
Sentence: Madeleine took her tiny dog off to Paris in her handbag and spoke to it lovingly in petois to stop it barking on the Metro. It was a curious mix of French and doggy noises.
Etymology: pet + patois (non-standard speech/creole)
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COMMENTS:
good one. - texmom, 2007-06-08: 07:19:00
Excellent word petaj - hmm... I wonder why you have pet in your pseudonym - perhaps petios is your second language - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-08: 09:05:00
today is a day when good words truely run a plenty. i wish i'd've come up with something this good. stupid television filling my brain with laughter and not verbotomies. - jadenguy, 2007-06-08: 09:37:00
You're just lucky I work all day--that word was my first instinct! - mplsbohemian, 2007-06-08: 20:15:00
petois occurred to me straight away when i checked the cartoon before leaving work. Then I had to go to tennis and didn't get home for a couple of hours, so I was hoping that no one else would think of it. - petaj, 2007-06-08: 22:18:00
I'm embarrassed to admit that my only second language is verbotomese. Typically in Australia, most of us have not become fluent in anything but English. - petaj, 2007-06-08: 22:29:00
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Player
Created by: caizoc
Pronunciation: plai! ya!
Sentence: one two three, player!
Etymology: play yeah!
Babybark
Created by: ekath
Pronunciation: babe-ee-bark
Sentence: The babybark that one sees when entering the vet's office is quite touching.
Etymology: from baby talk + bark
Petoral
Created by: SteveMB1959
Pronunciation: pet-oral
Sentence: My dog understands me when I speak 'petoral'.
Etymology: Petoral: To speak 'pet-talk'
Petronize
Created by: administraitor
Pronunciation: pet re naiz
Sentence: Don't petronize me - feed me!
Etymology: pet + patronize
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COMMENTS:
Bear with me - just found you guys. This is fun! - administraitor, 2007-06-08: 12:00:00
Wow - excellent start - great word - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-08: 12:34:00
Agreed. I'm pretty new here, too. A lot of these people are out for blood, so watch your back. Fair warning, and welcome, comrade. - Clayton, 2007-06-08: 13:11:00
Don't listen to Clayton, he's feeling a bit petkish today. We're all fine verbfolk! Welcome aboard! - purpleartichokes, 2007-06-08: 14:12:00
I'm pretty new here, too, and so far I'm enamored with the experience. It's a great chance to use words differently and reshape the language to suit the ever-present specter of urban lifestyle with which it has yet be afflicted. Plus we can use words good! It's great silly fun for people who love communicating, too. And I think Clayton's just ribbing you, these are great folks. - jadenguy, 2007-06-08: 15:09:00
Just being silly, of course. And trying to psych out some of the competition. - Clayton, 2007-06-08: 16:28:00
Great word! - Stevenson0, 2007-06-09: 10:16:00
I'm gonna use that one - hatman003, 2007-06-09: 23:53:00
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Chittychat
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: chitēchat
Sentence: Valerie and her cat have a special relationship. Purrcy fills the role of the child she never had. They even have their own way of communicating. Friends call it chittychat.
Etymology: chit (late Middle English: denoting a whelp, cub, or kitten) + chat (talk in a friendly and informal way) derivative of kitty cat
Furbledygook
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ˈfɝbl̩diˌgʊk/
Sentence: The speaking of furbledygook can sometimes be an entirely involuntary response, striking even the most serious and restrained people immediately upon contact with a cutesy-wutesy widdle puppy-doggy or kitty-katty.
Etymology: From fur + gobbledygook (intentionally reminiscent of "furball")
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COMMENTS:
This is another one that sounds better out loud than it looks written down. - ErWenn, 2007-06-08: 04:00:00
Looks fine to me. Gobbledygook is more fun to pronounce than it is to read, as well, but what a useful word. - Clayton, 2007-06-08: 04:37:00
Cute word ErWenn! - purpleartichokes, 2007-06-08: 04:43:00
It reminds me of the little presents our cats leave when they're shedding - usually found by unsuspecting bare feet in the middle of the night - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-08: 15:03:00
This is why all my cats are shorthairs, Jabberwocky. - ErWenn, 2007-06-08: 23:47:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by remistram. Thank you remistram! ~ James
purpleartichokes - 2007-06-08: 04:52:00
Great definition remistram! Outstanding submissions already! Gonna be hard voting today.
Jabberwocky - 2007-06-08: 12:11:00
I wish I could vote for every word today
jadenguy - 2007-06-08: 12:16:00
I guess everybody's creative juices are flowing since the weekend is upon us. Contentment envelops us like a warm wind on a brisk morning stroll.
ziggy41 - 2007-06-08: 12:40:00
ahh that's got to be an exact replica of my dog in the pic!
ErWenn - 2007-06-08: 14:04:00
Holy crap, there's a lot of good words today!
Verbotomy received a very positive review today in the The Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper. The story quotes words created by Stevenson0, Clayton and Rikboyee. See more: The Globe and Mail: Getting together to make up words.
Jabberwocky - 2007-06-08: 15:18:00
figures ziggy41 would have a k9
jadenguy - 2007-06-08: 15:43:00
I want a pug but I'm often concerned about not noticing it where i walk.
texmom - 2007-06-08: 21:44:00
It really was hard to choose. Petois just had that touch of class.
administraitor - 2007-06-09: 17:58:00
Toronto’s venerable “Mop & Pail” as the paper is affectionately known, is what led me to Verbotomy on Friday. My first instinct was to submit “Doggerel” then realized that it was in no way sufficiently twisted to survive! I’m looking forward to a lotta laffs with this!
mplsbohemian - 2007-06-10: 19:58:00
Dang, I just came up with a much better word, and it's too late for me to enter it: gerbilish!
Today's definition was suggested by remistram. Thank you remistram. ~ James