Strange and Weird

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Bryce - 29 Aug 2006 21:04 GMT

Hello.
Which are the differences for words "strange" and "weird"? It seems to have
the same significance but in spoken language (american) the second is more
used than the first.

Thank you for any explanation,
Nicola
ibryce@libero.it

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Owain - 29 Aug 2006 21:18 GMT

> Hello.
> Which are the differences for words "strange" and "weird"? It seems to have
> the same significance but in spoken language (american) the second is more
> used than the first.

Strange = unusual or unexpected.

Weird = not understandable, or deviant.

Selling peanut butter and jam sandwiches in Britain would be strange.

Liking peanut butter and jam sandwiches in Britain would be weird.

Owain

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Einde O'Callaghan - 29 Aug 2006 22:18 GMT

Owain schrieb:

>> Hello.
>> Which are the differences for words "strange" and "weird"? It seems to
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Liking peanut butter and jam sandwiches in Britain would be weird.

I've always had a weakness for them myself - ever since I was introduced
to them at boarding school (an American fellow pupil) - long before it
was possible to buy peanut butter on this side of the water.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

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Dan - 29 Aug 2006 21:42 GMT

> Hello.
> Which are the differences for words "strange" and "weird"? It seems to
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Nicola
> ibryce@libero.it

They do have very similar usage in spoken English in this area (dialect) of
the United States. However, "weird" would be considered more familiar and
less formal in my opinion. Further, they both tend to have a certain degree
of negativity associated with them. If you want lessen the degree of
negativity, you would probably use "different" in this dialect. "Odd," a
synonym, can be negative or less so depending on the intonation.

All of this is my opinion. More formally, I'm sure the dictionary could
offer more insight.

Dan

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John Ramsay - 30 Aug 2006 02:30 GMT

>Hello.
>Which are the differences for words "strange" and "weird"? It seems to have
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Nicola
> ibryce@libero.it

Basically they are the same but weird is a
slightly more intense term, just as unusual
or different would be less intense while bizarre
or lunatic would be more intense.

Consider the different ways of saying
someone is overweight. Terms can vary
from chubby, plump, rotund to obese,
blimpish, gargantuan, elephantine ...

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Bryce - 30 Aug 2006 19:40 GMT

Thank you very much to all of you!
Now it's clear, very clear. It's quite as I was thinking.

Also thank you,
Nicola
ibryce@libero.it

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / August 2006

Strange and Weird