Being able to identify things has always been a necessary task for any species that actively communicates with each other. Human communication started developing well before written or spoken language with body language and gestures over 100,000 years ago. Naming individual parts and specific things has made it possible for communication and advances in understanding and technology as we have progressed as a society. However, no one could remember the exact name for every part of something, so here is a list of some interesting things that you never knew had a name. 

1: A Druplet

The individual parts, or bubbles, on a raspberry or blackberry. Each miniature bead on one whole raspberry is actually its own stone fruit and has its own seed. So a raspberry is actually a bundle of 50-150 druplets. 

2: The Philtrum

The philtrum is the small groove in between your upper lip and your nose. The word comes from Greek origin meaning “love charm” or “love potion.” The Greeks thought the area to be a sensual zone and named it after its connection to romance and desire. As history progressed, the meaning shifted to a purely anatomical sense, just referring to the groove on the upper lip. 

3: A Tower of Giraffes

Most animal groupings have a title to identify their grouping. For example, a pride of lions, a murder of crows, or a horde of baboons. However, there are some that are much less mainstream, with one of my favorites being the ‘tower’ of giraffes. This name comes from the physical appearance of the giraffes. Being able to grow almost 18 feet tall, they resemble tall buildings rising high above the rest of the flat safari land that they call home. 

4: Koumpounophobia

This refers to the fear of clothing buttons. This could be triggered by seeing, touching, or even thinking of buttons on your clothing. Serious cases have symptoms such as nausea, panic, and sweating. Notably, Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, suffered from koumpounophobia, this led to his iconic turtleneck look, and apple devices being one of the leaders in touchscreen devices. 

5: L’espirit de l’escalier

This is the phenomenon of coming up with the perfect retort or comeback after the conversation is over. The translation is almost exactly “staircase wit.” Originally coined in the 18th century by famous philosopher Denis Diderot, he explained the term as being left speechless at a dinner party and only thinking of a sharp response once he reached the bottom of the stairs to leave. 

Now that you know these terms exist, maybe you’ll start noticing them. The next time you do, you can impress, or surprise, your friends by showing off your silly, new-found knowledge. Learning the niche names for things can show just how even the smallest ordinary things, behaviors, and life experiences can be important. Learning their names may not truly change anything, but it can help us recognize the little things that we all see and experience.

Edited and reviewed by Kien Powell