Questions tagged [english]

Puzzles that crucially depend on some feature of the English language or that only work in an English formulation.

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21 votes
1 answer
2k views

curious inflection of English words

The agent-noun form of lingerie is frank. The present-participle form of military actions is lying. The past-tense form of sheep is permanent. The past-participle form of six-pack is urn. ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 12.6k
-3 votes
1 answer
213 views

see/// ,sm. upi eo;; gohitr yjod piy/

see/// ,sm. upi eo;; gohitr yjod piy/ Did you solve it? If so, post your answer below. Go solve it! It is really easy. It is a common secret language. (Not really secret though.)
user86796's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
942 views

A Trivial Pursuit #06 (Sports and Leisure 1/4): Life Goals

This is part 6 of A Trivial Pursuit, a 25-part puzzle hunt. Each part is solvable on its own, with the exception of the meta-puzzle at the end. ...
Stiv's user avatar
  • 134k
13 votes
1 answer
1k views

An "IQ puzzle" of lines

Which of the options, A-D, should replace the question mark in order to complete the image below?
Prim3numbah's user avatar
  • 29.8k
23 votes
1 answer
2k views

A confusing sign

This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #12: mobile-friendly puzzles. I saw this posted on a sign, but couldn’t make sense of it. What was it trying to say? By ridge loses own aster or ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
16 votes
5 answers
2k views

Longest English homophone/heteronym chain

English has many words that have multiple pronunciations for the same spelling (heteronyms) or multiple spellings for the same pronunciation (homophones). What is the longest chain of unique spelling/...
bhh's user avatar
  • 279
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

I am travelling around England measuring. But what, and why?

I am to travel around England with my pH meter and related equipment. My boss gives me the following instructions as a reminder of where to visit. D I X Y. What does this mean, where should I go, and ...
chasly - supports Monica's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
283 views

A Divisive Little Riddle

"Want a cracker? Want a cracker?" the parrot said. Who wants a cracker? The grass is always greener, but you walked in the long grass. Now me and mine will bleed you dry. Don't you know who ...
Hawkeye's user avatar
  • 2,438
10 votes
2 answers
4k views

I am a non zero number

I am a non zero number. I can be shown with a single letter, or three letters, or five letters or six letters. What number am I?
RogerA's user avatar
  • 5,407
4 votes
2 answers
688 views

An Homage to "The World's Hardest Riddle"

This is an homage to The World's Hardest Riddle. This riddle will make more sense if you check it out first. I apparently am not smarter than a kindergartener, but here's my version of the riddle to ...
Hawkeye's user avatar
  • 2,438
9 votes
2 answers
631 views

What is a pedestrian-friendly city?

If a city satisfies a certain condition, it is a pedestrian-friendly city. Here's some examples. Pedestrian-friendly Not pedestrian-friendly Davenport Fremont Asunción Dallas Ikast Istanbul ...
Sneftel's user avatar
  • 2,946
25 votes
2 answers
2k views

Strange Glyphs From Another Time

The following glyphs were recently uncovered at a dig site, which have stumped cryptographers and linguists alike. These symbols are guessed to be some sort of ancient language, but nothing is yet ...
ExecutionByFork's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
590 views

A Crossweb Puzzle for Herb

I brought my buddy Herb my new Crossweb puzzle to try, and he wrinkled his nose. "No way. Far too difficult. Besides, there's only one type of Crossword puzzle I like and this is NOT it." ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
15 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is a Dual Word?

This puzzle is based off the What is a Word™ series started by JLee If a word satisfies a certain property it is called a Dual Word. Here are some examples: Dual Words Not Dual Words BARRED BANNED ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
3 votes
1 answer
193 views

A count's aunt goes to auditory specialist because of hearing issues [10], cryptic crossword clue

A single cryptic type cross word clue... A count's aunt goes to auditory specialist because of hearing issues. [10]
tom's user avatar
  • 4,261
5 votes
1 answer
239 views

Spie? Cryptic crossword clue

Cryptic crossword type clue Spie? (5,4) This is meant to be a clue that could appear in a cryptic crossword.
tom's user avatar
  • 4,261
1 vote
2 answers
148 views

What's the minimum number of five letter words that form a haiku, if it's possible at all?

Inspired by Wordle, I wondered if it's possible to have a Wordle game that forms a haiku? The question is in two parts: Is it possible to form a Haiku using only five letter English words (e.g. using ...
Scott Deerwester's user avatar
-6 votes
4 answers
247 views

Riddle - Name the Bee [closed]

What is the name of the Bee, Which flew all over the United States in its lifetime?
Amruth A's user avatar
  • 2,126
-2 votes
2 answers
1k views

FIND 4 sets of 5-letter words using these non-repeating letters: [closed]

Find 4 sets of 5-letter words using these non-repeating letters: N, C, A, V, M, S, E, Y, U, R, O, F, G, T, I, L, H, K, P, D
Jim Mayer's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
415 views

Making multiple sentences out of 5 words [closed]

Given below are four or five letter english words. Total 5. Using all the 5 words exactly once, can you make at least 8 grammatically correct english sentences? M___ C___ T___ B___ N___ You can use ...
DrD's user avatar
  • 39.2k
36 votes
1 answer
3k views

Imagine a chess board, but seven-eighths wide

My grandfather wrote me this riddle on a napkin when I was 12. It took me more than a year to solve, but I got it eventually. He said I didn't get it until I had explained the sections, so explain ...
Noah Smith's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
1k views

A pointless riddle

Please explain all lines. I may seem small and useless Several letters but less than one In fact I am not here, not at all But I am near; up above. Good James made me famous So when he humbles ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
9 votes
1 answer
438 views

Doubling Down - When a Good Idea Goes Bad

(Please note that this story is a work of fiction spun for the sake of the puzzle. It is based on little actual fact.) Back in the early 1940's, in the dead center of WWII, there was a bit of a ...
Dopplegamer's user avatar
9 votes
6 answers
922 views

Just this puzzle (notes on the fridge)

Found some notes scrawled on the fridge. What was I struggling with? Anger? Bother? Chafe? Destroy? Eradicate? Forget? Garden? Herb? Ingredient? Just this puzzle? Word tag - the answer is a word or ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
14 votes
1 answer
2k views

A strange number pattern, isn't it?

This looks like a strange number sequence to me. Or is it? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 ? ? ? ? ? So what are ...
DrD's user avatar
  • 39.2k
4 votes
1 answer
82 views

Three More Adjacent Riddles ("this place of beauty")

(As before, the puzzle only makes sense/has a unique answer as a whole, but "easy ins" have been strategically placed.). Please explain every line rather than just the final 3 answers. I and ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
12 votes
1 answer
301 views

On the Phone in the States

The answer is a relevant word or set of words.
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
2 votes
2 answers
258 views

Three Adjacent Riddles

When I am two There is an Irrelevant Announcement Of surprise, with uff For I am really six or thirteen. When the sun rises Over this eastern shore Hesitating briefly Before quickly passing this small ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
14 votes
1 answer
710 views

Three games played on a table

Three well-known games (using American rules/gameplay) are being played on a table... What is the game? What is the table? (Bonus: find a sugar) noses, pons, cons, transit, worries, postbase, ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
6 votes
2 answers
579 views

Five words, Five vowels, Five last names

These five words are from the Collins English Dictionary. Are also last names, And have one vowel difference in exact same location and same consonants in exact same locations. Example : Last Lest ...
DrD's user avatar
  • 39.2k
-5 votes
1 answer
167 views

English word with the longest sequence of non-vowels

Challenge Find all English words that contains at least 9 non-vowels consecutively. Rules Definition of vowel: For the purposes of this puzzle, the only vowels are A, E, I, O, U. Non- vowels are all ...
chasly - supports Monica's user avatar
18 votes
1 answer
1k views

Describe your ability to solve this number sequence!

Here is a sequence of numbers: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, -, -, -, 10, 12 Can you fill in the three blanks and thus reveal your excellent puzzle-solving ability?
chasly - supports Monica's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
302 views

What is a Compound Word™?

In the spirit of the What is a Word™/Phrase™ series started by JLee, a special brand of Phrase™ and Word™ puzzles. If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it a Compound Word™. Use the examples ...
WoomyRogue's user avatar
  • 1,812
16 votes
1 answer
482 views

Interrupting your day to bring you a puzzle

Please explain the following math. To start, here are some basic relationships - creative thinking may help (or not) 1) p < c < h < n1 <= n2 The pipe symbol is used as shorthand for ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
9 votes
2 answers
570 views

Don't take these too literally (A British sensation)

Don't take these too literally. Homophones and other liberties are taken. My prefix is My prefix is found at a funeral My infix at any salon My suffix is found at a table My whole is just three ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
14 votes
1 answer
753 views

We Need to Extract Frank’s Site Rankings

I asked my friend Frank to rank his favorite Stack Exchange sites from 1 (favorite) to 10 (least favorite). This is the feedback he left, but I got them a little mixed up and don’t know which he ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
3 votes
2 answers
553 views

Eduardo's Krazy English Kwiz

Eduardo is having a dream the night before his English quiz. Actually it's a nightmare. His teacher hands him the quiz and says "Hello, Eduardo. To wake up confident and rested, just answer this ...
DjinTonic's user avatar
  • 155
1 vote
1 answer
156 views

Words with dual and opposing meanings

What is the word in each case? I can attach or cut. I can be virtual or real. I can approve or penalize. I can separate or entangle.
Dmitry Kamenetsky's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
749 views

No Sound in Space

I hear there is no sound in space. But you are not in space so should have no trouble solving these. (These are related/themed cryptic clues, more or less. They may or may not be valid or fair, in the ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
1 vote
1 answer
573 views

What is a Sharp Word?

(Based off and inspired by JLee's What is a Word™ puzzles) What Is A Sharp Word? Word that conform to a specific rule are called sharp words. Here are some examples: Sharp Words™ Non-Sharp Words™ ...
The Jokester's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
299 views

What is a Late Word?

(Based off and inspired by JLee's What is a Word™ puzzles) What Is A Late Word? Word that conform to a specific rule are called late words. Here are some examples: Late Words™ Non-Late Words™ ...
The Jokester's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is a Mediocre Word™?

This puzzle is based off and inspired by the What is a Word™ and What is a Phrase™ series started by JLee and their spin-off What is a Number™ series. Main puzzle: If a word conforms to a special ...
praosylen's user avatar
  • 993
3 votes
2 answers
289 views

Country Outliers

You are given a note from a language nerd, which is: If Japan is 239, Then Germany is 4. Greece is 14, While Italy is 3. Now, Philippines has 412. But Norway has 2357! Now you are given 3 questions: ...
IsaacRoan Sison's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
141 views

What is a Number Word™?

This is in the spirit of the What is a Word/Phrase™ series started by JLee, with a special brand of Phrase™ and Word™ puzzles. If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it a Number Word™. Use the ...
IsaacRoan Sison's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
258 views

Hangman: Reverse Edition

Put a P, then Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva will turn a goddess into this. Put an R, you speak it more than writing it. Put a T, I become e-learning. Put a G, then I become a floor. If you're new to ...
IsaacRoan Sison's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
699 views

AnaCross: A crossword made of anagrams

This is a new type of puzzle I've devised: the AnaCross. Nothing new under the sun and all, I'm sure someone has made one before, but I've never seen it. The rules are pretty simple. At the end of ...
qwertyu63's user avatar
  • 3,909
4 votes
2 answers
318 views

Mathematics for the English major

An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #48: Unusual tag mix I was looking at the unusual tag mixes post, and one of the ones listed is combinatorics and english. I thought "who's going to be ...
Jeremy Dover's user avatar
  • 26.4k
7 votes
4 answers
316 views

Who is Mr. T and where does he work?

Update: To encourage completion of this puzzle, I've added spoilers to indicate any correct or incorrect answers so far. Also, it's possible to work on Part 2 while Part 1 is incomplete or partly ...
FlanMan's user avatar
  • 5,732
8 votes
3 answers
416 views

With a little effort, one can prevail

What is common between the following words and names? (Inspired by this except that I actually know the answer to this one) Defeat Kleenex? Guanaco Nerdiest Sardar Ian McKellen Dingo Gun Diablo ...
Amoz's user avatar
  • 24.5k
17 votes
6 answers
2k views

Largest set of words that don’t share letters [closed]

For instance, banana, excess, giggit, voodoo, pullup, myrrhy are six six-letter words that don’t share any letters with each other. This isn’t a heterogram puzzle: repeated letters within a single ...
Apocynum's user avatar
  • 179

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