The Poetry Society of America has announced that "diaphanous" has been chosen as the most beautiful word in the English language. Over 1,000 scholars and scribes participated in the selection process, with "diaphanous" securing 17% of the vote.
According to Merriam-Webster, "diaphanous" describes something "characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through," similar to being translucent, or "constituted of extreme delicacy of form."
The society conducted the vote by presenting multiple words for consideration. "Ethereal," meaning otherworldly, came in second with 12% of the vote, followed by "mellifluous" – defined as sweet, smooth, or pleasant – which received 10%.
The selection process is rooted in "phonaesthetics," a field of linguistics and psychology that examines the subjective appeal of word sounds. Popular choices in the poll often included words with L, M, and S sounds, as well as loanwords from Latin languages.
Examples of other words that appeared on the list include "luminous," "amour," "corazón" (Spanish for "heart"), "saudade" (Portuguese for melancholic nostalgia), "mélange," and "désolée."
Matt Brogan, executive director of the Poetry Society, noted that "one of the paradoxes of language is that it is easier to hear the distinctive music of a language you don't know than one you do." However, he added that poets are particularly attuned to the sonic qualities of language, observing how consonants and vowels interact.
Brogan also pointed out that some words may sound aesthetically pleasing but have less delicate connotations, citing examples like "diarrhea" and "euthanasia," which were also on the list and may have been chosen ironically.